Although mathematical physics are not the same as physical mathematics

Question

Although mathematical physics are not the same as physical mathematics, the  differences between the two are quite subtle and vague.

A. Although mathematical physics are not the same as physical mathematics, the

B. Mathematical physics and physical mathematics are not the same, but the

C. While physical mathematics are not the same as mathematical physics, the

D. Mathematical physics is not the same as physical mathematics, the

E. Mathematical physics is not the same as physical mathematics, and

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juri01m · Answer

A)  Although mathematical physics are not the same as physical mathematics, the  differences between the two are quite subtle and vague.

S-V Agreement Error : mathematical physics is a singular noun (the abstract entities mathematics, physics, statistics, acoustics, economics, politics, etc take a singular verb).

B)  Mathematical physics and physical mathematics are not the same, but the  differences between the two are quite subtle and vague.

Here the verb is plural because we have a Compound Subject (mathematical physics  and  physical mathematics). 
Meaning of contrast is conveyed through the FANBOYS adversative coordinating conjunction  but .
Hang on to B.

C)  While physical mathematics are not the same as mathematical physics, the  differences between the two are quite subtle and vague.

Same  S-V Agreement Error  as in Answer A.

D)  Mathematical physics is not the same as physical mathematics, the  differences between the two are quite subtle and vague.

This answer  fails  to convey the  intended meaning  of the author, which is to contrast on one side the fact that mathematical physics and physical mathematics are different, but that on the other side the 2 subjects have very subtle differences that are difficult to recognize ( vague ).

E)  Mathematical physics is not the same as physical mathematics, and  differences between the two are quite subtle and vague.

Same  meaning error  as in option D.

==> B is the correct final answer.

brt · Answer

Although mathematical physics are not the same as physical mathematics, the differences between the two are quite subtle and vague.

A. Although mathematical physics are not the same as physical mathematics, the

B. Mathematical physics and physical mathematics are not the same, but the

C. While physical mathematics are not the same as mathematical physics, the

D. Mathematical physics is not the same as physical mathematics, the

E. Mathematical physics is not the same as physical mathematics, and

Mathematical physics is singular so we can eliminate A and C. both the clauses are independent clauses so they can either be joined by a coordinating conjunction or a subordinating conjunction. So, the ans is between B and E. I go for E because it is shortest and sounds good.

ms27 · Answer

Points to look at before we analyze the answers.
A) Presence of contrast word "Although" at the beginning of the sentence
2) Presence of multiple subjects - Mathematical Physics and Physical Mathematics.

Option A: Although mathematical physics are not the same as physical mathematics, the

The Subject Verb agreement does not agree her. The subject being 'Mathematical Physics' and the verb 'are' are singular and plural respectively.

Option B: Mathematical physics and physical mathematics are not the same, but the

The Subject and Verb are in agreement- with now multiple subjects having been added- Mathematical physics and physical mathematics with the verb 'are'

Option C: While physical mathematics are not the same as mathematical physics, the

Same probelm- subject verb agreement.
Also note 'Although' is removed , but that does not make any change to the sentence.

Option D: Mathematical physics is not the same as physical mathematics, the

This uses a singular verb- 'is'.
The Subject and Verb agree here- however if you look at the contrast word at the beginning of the sentence 'Although' has been removed.
This makes both parts of the sentences an independant clause.
And independant clauses cannot be linked by a comma- this error is called  comma splice .

Option E: Mathematical physics is not the same as physical mathematics, and
Similar as Option D - but the word at the end of the sentence changes to 'and'.
This also causes a change in the meaning.

Option B is the correct answer.

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Although mathematical physics are not the same as physical mathematics, the  differences between the two are quite subtle and vague.

A. Although mathematical physics are not the same as physical mathematics, the

Incorrect.

This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The singular subject  physics  does not agree with the plural verb  are .

What helps us identify this question as a Subject Verb Agreement question as well as identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign:

A pseudo-plural singular subject

Physics  is a confusing subject. It ends with -s, which might make us think of it as a plural subject, but it is, in fact, singular.

B. Mathematical physics and physical mathematics are not the same, but the

This answer choice corrects the original Subject Verb Agreement mistake by changing the order of the sentence so that the new subject is the plural "Mathematical physics and physical mathematics".

Although each of the individual subjects is a singular noun, connecting both  physics  and  mathematics  with "and' creates a plural subject made of singular nouns, and this subject correctly agrees with the plural verb  are .

While this answer choice changes the wording and structure of the original sentence, the original meaning does not change. Both  Although  and  but  are opposition words, and stating that  X is not the same as Y  equals stating that  X and Y are not the same .

C. While physical mathematics are not the same as mathematical physics, the

Incorrect.

This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The singular subject  mathematics  does not agree with the plural verb  are .

What helps us identify this question as a Subject Verb Agreement question as well as identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign:

A pseudo-plural singular subject

Mathematics  is a confusing subject. It ends with -s, which might make us think of it as a plural subject, but it is, in fact, singular.

D. Mathematical physics is not the same as physical mathematics, the

Incorrect.

While this answer choice corrects the original Subject Verb Agreement mistake, it does not fit into the original sentence: the word  Although  that connected the two parts of the original sentence is omitted.

E. Mathematical physics is not the same as physical mathematics, and

Incorrect.

While this answer choice corrects the original Subject Verb Agreement mistake, it changes the meaning of the original sentence as a result of replacing the opposition word  Although  with the addition word  and . The result is an illogical sentence because the two parts of the sentence are opposed to each other, a relation that was correctly expressed by  Although  but which the word  and  fails to express.

In addition, this answer choice changes the meaning of the original sentence by omitting the word  the . There is a difference between  the differences  (=specific, known differences) and  differences (any, unspecified differences) .

RICHA1189 · Answer

B. Mathematical physics and physical mathematics are not the same, but the

2 singular subjects + and = plural verb  are  . And as per the meaning use of but is correct.

Although mathematical physics are not the same as physical mathematics

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Although mathematical physics are not the same as physical mathematics

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