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x97agarwal
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I actually chose E - because the passage makes no mention of costs.

What's the OA?
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I actually chose E - because the passage makes no mention of costs.

What's the OA?

The total cost of 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments was greater than the cost of manufacturing the stainless steel instruments.

This can be true or can't be true.. we are not 100% sure.
(other costs.. like raw material cost, operating cost.. other factors too..)
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B

the approach that I took is to determine what could be definitely contrary to the info stated in the question. as mentioned before, cost to sterilize nylon inst's is 0.34 times of the cost to mnf given the data.
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x97agarwal
Certain instruments used in veterinary surgery can be made either of stainless steel or of nylon. In a study of such instruments, 10 complete sterilizations of a set of nylon instruments required 3.4 times the amount of energy used to manufacture that set of instruments, whereas 50 complete sterilizations of a set of stainless steel instruments required 2.1 times the amount of energy required to manufacture that set of instruments.

If the statements above are true, each of the following could be true EXCEPT:

(A) The 50 complete sterilizations of nylon instruments used more energy than did the 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments. Passage doesn't compare about the energy used between Nylon and Stainless Steel sterilization, it talks about the energy used in Sterilization and energy used for manufacturing set of instrument either Nylon or Stainless
(B) More energy was required for each complete sterilization of the nylon instruments than was required to manufacture the nylon instruments. it is mentioned in passage
10 complete sterilizations of a set of nylon instruments = 3.4 times the amount of energy used to manufacture that set of instruments,
so, for each complete sterilizations of a set of nylon instruments = 0.34 times the amount of energy used to manufacture that set of instruments,

(C) More nylon instruments than stainless steel instruments were sterilized in the study. true
(D) More energy was used to produce the stainless steel instruments than was used to produce the nylon instruments. true
(E) The total cost of 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments was greater than the cost of manufacturing the stainless steel instruments.passage doesn't talk about the cost

so, possible ans for me is a,b or E.

can some1 please explain if i am wrong.?
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x97agarwal
Certain instruments used in veterinary surgery can be made either of stainless steel or of nylon. In a study of such instruments, 10 complete sterilizations of a set of nylon instruments required 3.4 times the amount of energy used to manufacture that set of instruments, whereas 50 complete sterilizations of a set of stainless steel instruments required 2.1 times the amount of energy required to manufacture that set of instruments.

If the statements above are true, each of the following could be true EXCEPT:

(A) The 50 complete sterilizations of nylon instruments used more energy than did the 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments. Passage doesn't compare about the energy used between Nylon and Stainless Steel sterilization, it talks about the energy used in Sterilization and energy used for manufacturing set of instrument either Nylon or Stainless
(B) More energy was required for each complete sterilization of the nylon instruments than was required to manufacture the nylon instruments. it is mentioned in passage
10 complete sterilizations of a set of nylon instruments = 3.4 times the amount of energy used to manufacture that set of instruments,
so, for each complete sterilizations of a set of nylon instruments = 0.34 times the amount of energy used to manufacture that set of instruments,

(C) More nylon instruments than stainless steel instruments were sterilized in the study. true
(D) More energy was used to produce the stainless steel instruments than was used to produce the nylon instruments. true
(E) The total cost of 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments was greater than the cost of manufacturing the stainless steel instruments.passage doesn't talk about the cost

so, possible ans for me is a,b or E.

can some1 please explain if i am wrong.?

Consider the best case scenario to rule out each option.

A) The 50 complete sterilizations of nylon instruments used more energy than did the 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments.
Quantity of energy consumption is not mentioned in the passage, so we can assume any value for the energy to make the statement true.

Energy used 50 complete sterilizations of nylon instruments- 17 Terajoule
Energy used 50 complete sterilizations of SS instruments- 2.4 joule

So far we take a value that doesn't conflict with the information provided in the passage, we are free to choose any number.
Could be true.

E) The total cost of 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments was greater than the cost of manufacturing the stainless steel instruments.

Say $x spent on energy used for manufacturing.
$2.1x spent on energy used for 50 sterilizations.

The difference=2.1x-x=1.1x

If the manufacturing cost of SS < 1.1x, this will also hold true.
Could be true.

(B) can't be true. To make it true, we'll have to contradict the information in the passage, something we must not do.

Ans: "B"
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Let's take an example .

Certain instruments used in veterinary surgery can be made either of stainless steel or of nylon. In a study of such instruments, 10 complete sterilizations of a set of nylon instruments required 3.4 times the amount of energy used to manufacture that set of instruments, whereas 50 complete sterilizations of a set of stainless steel instruments required 2.1 times the amount of energy required to manufacture that set of instruments.


Let's assume that energy required to manufacture a nylon instrument is 20 kwh.
10 sterilizations consumed 3.4 x 20 = 74
Each sterilization requires - 74/10 = 7.4 kwh


Let's assume that energy required to manufacture a stainless steel instrument is 0.5 kwh
Therefore the energy required for 50 complete sterilizations is 2.1 times x .5 = about 1 kwh
Energy required for each sterilization is 1/50 = 0.02 kwh

Clearly the cost to manufacture a stainless steel instrument is unrelated to the cost to manufacture a nylon based instrument.



This example indicates that only B can be false. The above example disproves (D)


.
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P1: Certain Set of Instruments were made from Nylon and Steel
P2: 10 * En = 3.4 * (Em)
50 * Es = 2.1 * (Em)

Where,
En = Energy Required Sterilization of Nylon
Es = Energy Required Sterilization of Steel
Em = Energy required for Manufacturing set of instruments

(A) The 50 complete sterilizations of nylon instruments used more energy than did the 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments.

5* (10 * En) = 5*3.4* Em = 17 Em (since Em is always positive)

50 Es = 2.1 Em < 17 Em So We can conclude (A) from above Premises. ( So This is not the Answer)
=============================================================
(B) More energy was required for each complete sterilization of the nylon instruments than was required to manufacture the nylon instruments.

We do not know anyting about the values of En and Em So we cannot compare these two values. So this could be the answer
=============================================================
(C) More nylon instruments than stainless steel instruments were sterilized in the study.

This is a out scope choice. Nowhere in the Premises, the author talked about the number of nylon / steel instruments. So leave it.
=============================================================
(D) More energy was used to produce the stainless steel instruments than was used to produce the nylon instruments.
This is also an out of scope answer choice.
=============================================================
(E) The total cost of 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments was greater than the cost of manufacturing the stainless steel instruments.
This is also an out of scope answer choice.
Author did not talk about the price at all.
=============================================================

So the answer is : Choice B.
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x97agarwal
Certain instruments used in veterinary surgery can be made either of stainless steel or of nylon. In a study of such instruments, 10 complete sterilizations of a set of nylon instruments required 3.4 times the amount of energy used to manufacture that set of instruments, whereas 50 complete sterilizations of a set of stainless steel instruments required 2.1 times the amount of energy required to manufacture that set of instruments.

If the statements above are true, each of the following could be true EXCEPT:

(A) The 50 complete sterilizations of nylon instruments used more energy than did the 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments.
(B) More energy was required for each complete sterilization of the nylon instruments than was required to manufacture the nylon instruments.
(C) More nylon instruments than stainless steel instruments were sterilized in the study.
(D) More energy was used to produce the stainless steel instruments than was used to produce the nylon instruments.
(E) The total cost of 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments was greater than the cost of manufacturing the stainless steel instruments.

Show SpoilerKaplan OE

Let me try explaining this ...
Equation 1 says:
10 Sterilizations = 3.4 (Manufacturing of Nylon group)
or 1 Sterilizations = .34 (Manufacturing of Nylon group)
or 1 Sterilizations = 34% (Manufacturing of Nylon group)

Equation 2 says:
50 Sterilizations = 2.1 (Manufacturing of Steel group)
or 1 Sterilizations = 2.1/50 (Manufacturing of Nylon group)
1 Sterilizations = 4% (Manufacturing of Nylon group)

That's all we know. No relationship between the cost of Nylon and Steel group defined. Neither their number is certain.

A) As stated above, we don't know this relation so no comments.
C) As stated above, we don't know this relation so no comments.
D) As stated above, we don't know this relation so no comments.
E) Yes, we know this is true from equation 2. If 50 Sterilizations equals 2.1 times Manu, then 50 S must be bigger than 1 times Manu for sure ..

Correct Answer: B) In case of Nylon, the option suggests 1 S > 100% Manu; however, we know that 1 S just equals 34% manu and cant be bigger than that.

If you like my post, kudos me .. this will be my 1st and I need 25 of them for GC tests access !
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If you don't get (B) right away, you will most likely boil it down to (B) and (C).

(B) Sterilization per nylon instrument > total energy on manufacturing nylon instruments. Not true.

(C) Although they do mention only 10 nylon and 50 stainless steel instruments, it doesn't imply that only 10 nylon and only 50 stainless steel instruments were studied. The statement can be read as, "for every 10" or "for every 50". They merely state a ratio. So, it is possible that more nylon instruments were tested in the study.
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B is correct ans as it can't be true per the given information
it says
More energy was required for each complete sterilization of the nylon instruments than was required to manufacture the nylon instruments.
so for 10 sterilization ----> 3.4 X(Energy used to manufacture)
This implies for 1 sterilization -----> 0.34 X (Energy used to manufacture)


Therefore, less energy was required for each complete sterilization of the nylon instruments than was required to manufacture the nylon instruments.
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Very unlike common GMAT questions, but a good question nonetheless.

This one is asking us to pick the answer choice that is proven to be false.




(A) The 50 complete sterilizations of nylon instruments used more energy than did the 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments. ------ This could be true. We don´t know how much energy it takes to manufacture the set of nylon or steel, but depending on how much energy they take, this could in fact be true.


(B) More energy was required for each complete sterilization of the nylon instruments than was required to manufacture the nylon instruments. ------- CORRECT. This one is false. They mention that "10 sterilizations take 3.4 times the energy to manufacture the entire set set" ----- So EACH sterilization takes 3.4 / 10 or .34 times the energy to manufacture the entire set.


(C) More nylon instruments than stainless steel instruments were sterilized in the study. --------- We don´t know the total number of nylon or steel pieces that were part of the study. So depending on the number it could be true.


(D) More energy was used to produce the stainless steel instruments than was used to produce the nylon instruments. ------- We don´t have a reference on how the energy to manufacture a nylon piece compares to the energy used to manufacture a steel piece. But depending on that number, this could also be true.


(E) The total cost of 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments was greater than the cost of manufacturing the stainless steel instruments. --------- We don´t have info about the cost. Depending on that info, this could be true.
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what a wonderful question...!!
It required less logic and more attention... Except B , Every other option offered comparison between steel and Nylon
With 'E', I got this wrong but it taught me - Reading is a critical skill in GMAT.
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x97agarwal
Certain instruments used in veterinary surgery can be made either of stainless steel or of nylon. In a study of such instruments, 50 complete sterilizations of a set of nylon instruments required 3.4 times the amount of energy used to manufacture that set of instruments, whereas 50 complete sterilizations of a set of stainless steel instruments required 2.1 times the amount of energy required to manufacture that set of instruments.

If the statements above are true, each of the following could be true EXCEPT:


(A) The 50 complete sterilizations of nylon instruments used more energy than did the 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments. - WRONG. Unless we know per unit energy consumption, we cannot be infer that. It can go in either direction.

(B) More energy was required for each complete sterilization of the nylon instruments than was required to manufacture the nylon instruments.

(C) More nylon instruments than stainless steel instruments were sterilized in the study. - WRONG. Set could have had more or less number of items for either case.

(D) More energy was used to produce the stainless steel instruments than was used to produce the nylon instruments. - WRONG. Could have or could not have been the case.

(E) The total cost of 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments was greater than the cost of manufacturing the stainless steel instruments. - WRONG. Again it may or may not be true.

Note one thing about such EXCEPT question - the options are either true or or not true, and its that the not true is the answer.
In this question all the options EXCEPT B may be true or may not be true.

The only problem i had with it is that I thought 50 sterlizations could have been different among themselves i.e. there were variations either for nylon instruments sterlizations or for steel instruments sterlizations. In that the choice B requires you to assume those sterlizations being same was not i could have ever thought. May be i went extreme to think it that way and lose my ground.
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Bunuel
x97agarwal
Certain instruments used in veterinary surgery can be made either of stainless steel or of nylon. In a study of such instruments, 10 complete sterilizations of a set of nylon instruments required 3.4 times the amount of energy used to manufacture that set of instruments, whereas 50 complete sterilizations of a set of stainless steel instruments required 2.1 times the amount of energy required to manufacture that set of instruments.

If the statements above are true, each of the following could be true EXCEPT:


(A) The 50 complete sterilizations of nylon instruments used more energy than did the 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments.

(B) More energy was required for each complete sterilization of the nylon instruments than was required to manufacture the nylon instruments.

(C) More nylon instruments than stainless steel instruments were sterilized in the study.

(D) More energy was used to produce the stainless steel instruments than was used to produce the nylon instruments.

(E) The total cost of 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments was greater than the cost of manufacturing the stainless steel instruments.


Show SpoilerKaplan OE
Official LSAT Test Prep 9, Section 2, Q-17
(B) If this one reminded you of a logic game, so much the better: Your LG skills serve
you well here. First, note that the question asks for the one thing that cannot be true. Next,
draw out the information the stimulus gives — and doesn’t give. There are two sets of
instruments; the same procedures are done to each; and the procedures yield similar
results. It takes more energy to sterilize a set of these instruments than it does to
manufacture them. But we don’t know how many instruments make up each set, nor do
we know exactly how much energy it takes to manufacture either set. It could take more to
make nylon tools, or it could take more to make stainless steel, or it could take equal
amounts of energy for both. We just don’t know. Unfortunately there’s no way to predict
the answer here. It’s just a matter of slogging through the choices until you find the right
one.
(A) could be true. If the same amount of energy was required to manufacture both the
nylon and the steel instruments, then sterilizing the nylon instruments would have been
more energy consuming than sterilizing the steel. (B), however, can’t be true, and yes, it
takes a little math-thinking, but that’s life. (You could have skipped this choice and
checked out the others; if all of them can be true, then (B) must be correct whether or not
you understand why.) If 50 complete sterilizations of the nylon instruments took 3.4 times
the energy to make that set, then they should be able to do roughly 15 sterilizations with
the same energy as manufacture. One complete sterilization, then, must have taken far less
than the energy of manufacture. (C) could be true; as we noted above, we don’t know how
many types of instrument appear in each kit, so there could be more nylon instruments
than steel. Since both kits were sterilized an equal number of times, more nylon
instruments could have been sterilized. (D) absolutely could be true, since we don’t know
how much energy was required to produce either set. (E) is also quite possible. If
materials are cheap, and energy is very expensive, then using far more energy to sterilize
than manufacture steel instruments could make sterilizing them more expensive than
making them in the first place.

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION



(A) No. The passage establishes a relation between the amount of energy used to sterilize nylon instruments and the amount of energy required to produce these instruments. It also establishes a relation between the amount of energy used to sterilize stainless steel instruments and the amount of energy required to produce these instruments. However, the passage gives no information to compare nylon and steel instruments to one another. Therefore, it can be true that it takes more energy to sterilize nylon instruments than to sterilize steel instruments.

(B) Yes. The passage states that 50 complete sterilizations of nylon surgical instruments takes 3.4 times more energy than manufacturing those instruments. Making the reasonable assumption that each sterilization requires the same amount of energy, one complete sterilization should require 3.4/50 (a number less than one) times the energy required to produce the instruments. In other words, it can not be true that “more energy was required for each complete sterilization of the nylon instruments than was required to manufacture the nylon instruments.

(C) No. Nothing indicates the total number of instruments of either type used in the study. Therefore, it can be true that more nylon instruments were used in this study than stainless steel instruments.

(D) No. The passage establishes a relation between the amount of energy used to sterilize nylon instruments and the amount of energy required to produce these instruments. It also establishes a relation between the amount of energy used to sterilize stainless steel instruments and the amount of energy required to produce these instruments. However, the passage gives no information to compare nylon ;and steel instruments to one another. Therefore, it can be true that more energy was used to produce the steel instruments the nylon instruments.

(E) No. While the passage implies that the energy costs of 50 complete sterilization of stainless steel instruments is greater than the energy costs of manufacturing them, nothing in the passage indicates the total costs of manufacturing the instruments. Perhaps the raw materials for the instruments are expensive, or maybe labor costs for manufacturing are much greater than for sterilization.


(B) More energy was required for each complete sterilization of the nylon instruments than was required to manufacture the nylon instruments.
each complete sterilization of the nylon instruments -- i saw the each but what about instruments. - i believe it talks about total number of instruments and not a single instrument.

kindly clarify
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x97agarwal
Certain instruments used in veterinary surgery can be made either of stainless steel or of nylon. In a study of such instruments, 50 complete sterilizations of a set of nylon instruments required 3.4 times the amount of energy used to manufacture that set of instruments, whereas 50 complete sterilizations of a set of stainless steel instruments required 2.1 times the amount of energy required to manufacture that set of instruments.

If the statements above are true, each of the following could be true EXCEPT:


(A) The 50 complete sterilizations of nylon instruments used more energy than did the 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments.

(B) More energy was required for each complete sterilization of the nylon instruments than was required to manufacture the nylon instruments.

(C) More nylon instruments than stainless steel instruments were sterilized in the study.

(D) More energy was used to produce the stainless steel instruments than was used to produce the nylon instruments.

(E) The total cost of 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments was greater than the cost of manufacturing the stainless steel instruments.


Show SpoilerKaplan OE
Official LSAT Test Prep 9, Section 2, Q-17
(B) If this one reminded you of a logic game, so much the better: Your LG skills serve
you well here. First, note that the question asks for the one thing that cannot be true. Next,
draw out the information the stimulus gives — and doesn’t give. There are two sets of
instruments; the same procedures are done to each; and the procedures yield similar
results. It takes more energy to sterilize a set of these instruments than it does to
manufacture them. But we don’t know how many instruments make up each set, nor do
we know exactly how much energy it takes to manufacture either set. It could take more to
make nylon tools, or it could take more to make stainless steel, or it could take equal
amounts of energy for both. We just don’t know. Unfortunately there’s no way to predict
the answer here. It’s just a matter of slogging through the choices until you find the right
one.
(A) could be true. If the same amount of energy was required to manufacture both the
nylon and the steel instruments, then sterilizing the nylon instruments would have been
more energy consuming than sterilizing the steel. (B), however, can’t be true, and yes, it
takes a little math-thinking, but that’s life. (You could have skipped this choice and
checked out the others; if all of them can be true, then (B) must be correct whether or not
you understand why.) If 50 complete sterilizations of the nylon instruments took 3.4 times
the energy to make that set, then they should be able to do roughly 15 sterilizations with
the same energy as manufacture. One complete sterilization, then, must have taken far less
than the energy of manufacture. (C) could be true; as we noted above, we don’t know how
many types of instrument appear in each kit, so there could be more nylon instruments
than steel. Since both kits were sterilized an equal number of times, more nylon
instruments could have been sterilized. (D) absolutely could be true, since we don’t know
how much energy was required to produce either set. (E) is also quite possible. If
materials are cheap, and energy is very expensive, then using far more energy to sterilize
than manufacture steel instruments could make sterilizing them more expensive than
making them in the first place.
I chose option C based on the following two premise
"50 complete sterilizations of a set of nylon instruments.."
"50 complete sterilizations of a set of stainless steel instruments ..."

It says single set of 50 instruments each for nylon and stainless..

So "More nylon instruments than stainless steel instruments were sterilized in the study." can't be true. Can someone please guide where did I go wrong with my analysis?
 
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Agree with above, it seems the question has changed:

Certain instruments used in veterinary surgery can be made either of stainless steel or of nylon. In a study of such instruments, 50 complete sterilizations of a set of nylon instruments required 3.4 times the amount of energy used to manufacture that set of instruments, whereas 50 complete sterilizations of a set of stainless steel instruments required 2.1 times the amount of energy required to manufacture that set of instruments.

If the statements above are true, each of the following could be true EXCEPT:

Posted from my mobile device
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So, the point is "50 complete sterilizations" means "50 times complete sterilizations", there's something wrong with my understanding...
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GMAT Club Verbal Expert
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GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
189 posts