At any given time, approximately fifteen percent of all homes in

Question

At any given time, approximately fifteen percent of all homes in Florida are on the market. In Texas, however, only seven percent of all homes are on the market at any given time. Therefore, one will have a wider selection of homes to choose from if one looks for a home in Florida rather than in Texas.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously strengthen the argument above?

A. Homes in Florida tend to be less expensive than those in Texas.
B. Mortgages are easier to obtain for homes in Florida than for homes in Texas.
C. The construction industry in Texas has reported significant growth over the past year.
D. The cost of constructing new homes in Texas is higher than in Florida.
E. The total number of homes in Florida is three times greater than the total number in Texas.

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Ratanp · Answer

A

As it strengthens the argument as to why one will have wider options to choose from in florida

stne · Answer

Consider this, if there are 100 homes in Florida well as 300 homes in Texas then does the statement hold?

Then we have 15 homes for sale in Florida well as 21 homes for sale in Texas - This weakens instead of  strengthening  the argument.

If we have 300 homes in Florida and 100 in Texas then , 45 homes are for sale in Florida well as 7 in Texas- This strengthens the argument.

Thus higher percentage does not mean higher number.

Hence for the argument to hold true, the base of which 15 percent is being taken should be more.

Thus number of homes in Florida must be more than the number of homes in Texas.

Thus option E strengthens the argument.

Ans E

Hope it helped.

Goodkarma · Answer

I think it should be D.
I feel it provides a more substantial explanation.

AbhiS101 · Answer

This argument holds only when total no of houses in Florida or 15% of total houses in Florida is greater than 7% houses in Texas
Otherwise we can't comment, judgement of obsolute numbers are required

as per option E

Houses in florida = 3x
Houses in texas = x

15% of 3x is > 7% of x

IMO E

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The correct answer is E.

The conclusion is that "one will have a wider selection of homes to choose from if one looks for a home in Florida rather than in Texas." Why? Because 15% of all homes in Florida are on the market whereas only 7% of all homes in Texas are on the market. This argument confuses percentages with specific numbers. It is possible that 15% of the number of homes in Florida is actually smaller than 7% of the number of homes in Texas. If the number of homes in both states were the same, or if the number of homes in Florida were greater than the number in Texas, the argument would be stronger. Choice E tells us that the number of homes in Florida is greater, thus making the argument stronger.

napolean92728 · Answer

After the first read you can directly infer that the number of homes in florida and texas should be same or florida should have greater number of homes for the argument to hold true, hence option E is correct , rest all answer options are irrelevant.

At any given time, approximately fifteen percent of all homes in

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At any given time, approximately fifteen percent of all homes in

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