Recent studies show that people between the ages of 13 and 55 produce

Question

Recent studies show that people between the ages of 13 and 55 produce 65 pounds more garbage per year than they did in 1995. This increase has led to a higher percentage of the total garbage produced by all the age groups. This age group constitutes a growing percentage of the population, so it partially explains this rise.

Which of the following can be concluded from passage?

A. People over the age of 55 produce more garbage than people less than the age of 13.

B. Population has risen since 1995.

C. People between the age of 13 and 55 are more than half of current population.

D. Before 1995, people below age 13 and above age 55 produced higher percentage of total garbage than they do now.

E. People between the age of 13 and 55 produce more garbage than those below 13 or older than 55.

chetan2u · Accepted Answer

Firstly a general point-- In many Qs, after you read a para one can guess the partial flow of the reasoning and can give a wild thought over conclusion. Lets work out on the Para-- the FACTs/ Premises on which the conclusion has to be dependent are- 1) people between the ages of 13 and 55 produce 65 pounds more garbage per year than they did in 1995. 2) It has increased the % of the total garbage produced by all the age groups--- The usage of This increase has led to a higher percentage of the total garbage produced by all the age groups. is slightly confusing.. when we are talking of all the groups, HOW can all the groups simulatenously increase there %s.. say <13 and >55 GROUP was producing 56% and remaining 44% was being produced by the group between 13 and 55.. NOW how can both group increase their %, it will go above 100%. SO I presume, they mean average per person in all groups has increased 3) 13-55 age group constitutes a growing percentage of the population, so it partially explains this rise. Our conclusion should be talking of two things -- 1) relation in some context in three groups <13 , >13 and <55 and >55.. OR two groups <13 and >55 AND between 13 and 55 2) average of garbage lets see the choices-- A. People over the age of 55 produce more garbage than people less than the age of 13. there is nothing given in the para that gives a relation in these TWO groups B. Population has risen since 1995. Again OUT of context.. we are talking of % of total garbage and not sheer TOTAL quantity C. People between the age of 13 and 55 are more than half of current population. Nothing in PARA suggests so D. Before 1995, people below age 13 and above age 55 produced higher percentage of total garbage than they do now. Now the average has increased. Also the group between 13 and 55 constitutes of a increased population. So this group will NOW be producing A greater % of TOTAL garbage than it produced BEFORE 1995... If this group has increased its %, it is but natural that the decrease has happened in the OTHER group <13 and >55... so D is VALID conclusion E. People between the age of 13 and 55 produce more garbage than those below 13 or older than 55... WE just know the % of this group has increased from 1995.. BUT it could be that the increase is from 10% to 11%.. so E is not valid

ConkergMat · Answer

OA D.

OE:
Because the percentage of garbage produced by the people between the ages of 13 and 55 has increased, the percentage of garbage produced by those older than 55 and younger than 13 must have decreased. Choice D is the best answer.

I had to rethink this one and actually OA looks correct now.

D is saying if A+B+C = 100 in 1995 and now AND B increased now. A+C is less than what it was in 1995. 
I believe E states a rise in B has led to an overall increase in A+B+C. So cannot conclude that B>A, B>C.
I believe that C states a rise in B has caused the increase and now B > 50%. Cannot conclude that either.

Technext · Answer

Recent studies show that people between the ages of 13 and 55 produce 65 pounds more garbage per year than they did in 1995. This increase has led to a higher percentage of the total garbage produced by all the age groups. This age group constitutes a growing percentage of the population, so it partially explains this rise.

Which of the following can be concluded from passage?

Explanation :
-----------------------
 A . People over the age of 55 produce more garbage than people less than the age of 13. ---> Nothing as such can be concluded from the passage.

B . Population has risen since 1995. ---> Not necessarily true. Even without any rise (i.e., constant growth rate) in population, we can still have the scenario described above.

C . People between the age of 13 and 55 are more than half of current population. ---> This cannot be concluded from the passage.

D . Before 1995, people below age 13 and above age 55 produced higher percentage of total garbage than they do now. ---> Irrelevant. What they did  before  1995 is not relevant to the matter at hand.

E . People between the age of 13 and 55 produce more garbage than those below 13 or older than 55. ---> By process of elimination. We can also conclude this by the following: ... increase has led to a higher percentage ..... by all the age groups ...
-----------------------

I too go for choice  E .

Regards,
Technext

shaselai · Answer

some info: 13-55 produce 65pds > 1995. increase lead to higher % total garbage by all age groups. this group seems to be growing.

It seems it is B because the passage says it constitus a growing percentage of population. E is tempting but there's no data behind it

crack700 · Answer

I go with D. What's the OA

tuanquang269 · Answer

This is a kind of INFERENCE question, so we should find the SCOPE of the question.
- The people from this age of 13 and 55 produce 65 pounds more garbage/year than they did in 1995 
=> Increase in % of total garbage produce by all group
- 13-55 years old people increase => rise in garbage

A) This is out of scope, the argument did not mention the these two groups of people. Moreover, we do not have any evidence to explain this choice.
B) There is no clue the population overall, but the predicted population of the people from 13 to 55
C) Irrelevant
D) Now, the people belong (13,55) produce more than they did before, we can subtract from the constant number and prove that the people out of (13,55) will produce less than before
E) There is no clue, We do not whether this group produce more or less than those out of (13,55). The argument just compared the garbage production of this group from different times

dentobizz · Answer

New Gmat club project
Click here

Theory Articles of Main point/Conclusion questions

Thursdays with Ron

Kaplan
https://gmat.kaptest.com/2011/09/07/how- ... gFHrI.dpbs

dheeraj24 · Answer

A very tricky question.

As already said by experts , these sought of questions have to be solved using mathematical approach.

Initially we are told that people between the ages of 13 and 55 produced more garbage (65 pounds) now than they produced in 1995.

We are also told that "This increase has led them to hold a higher percentage of the total garbage produced by all age groups"

This means before 1995 all three i.e below the age of 13,over the age of 55 and ages between 13 and 55 produced an 'X' Quantity of garbage . In that choice d is saying that combined percentages(%) of below the age of 13 and over the age of 55 was more than the percentage(%) of ages between 13 and 55. .

Hope this helps

PiyushK · Answer

Lets consider garbage produce by 13-55 was 10 pounds per year in year 1995
Now this group is producing 10+65 =75 pounds per year.

This increase has led to a higher percentage of the total garbage produced by all age groups.
 Lets assume percentage part of garbage produced by 13-55 group = 55%
below 13 = 15%
above 55 = 30%

This age group constitutes a growing percentage of the population.
 Lets assume that this trend is continuing from years before 1995... a progressive trend.

so it partially explains this rise.
 
From provided information I can conclude :

That 13-55 group constituted a growing percentage of population 1992<1993<1994<1995<1996...today... there % is rising.

Even I can conclude that percentage of garbage 13-55 group produced from 1995 to today has increased .. as today 13-55 is producing 65 pounds extra... thus I can say percentage contribution of garbage by other age group was higher in 
1995..

garbage produced in % per group:
in 1995 below13=20% 13-55=40% above55=40%
now below13=15% 13-55=55% and above55=30%

From provided information and considering trend in 13-55 % population rise. I am not able to see any definite link, which can confirm that garbage produced in 1994 was not in ratio below13=10% 13-55=80% and above55=10%.. I can take any ratio because provided information doesn't restrict.

Provided data only restrict scenario from 1995 onward. thus, for option D before 1995 we can not confirm anything.

pri.07.23 · Answer

suppose <13 yrs population produces x pounds of garbage in 1995, 13-55 yrs produces Y and >55 yrs produces Z pounds of garbage in 1995. percentage share of each group is <13 yrs : X/(X+Y+Z), 13-55 yrs: Y/(X+Y+Z) and >55 yrs: Z/(X+Y+Z)
Now, Y pounds has increased to Y+65 pounds. So now total garbage becomes X+Y+Z+65,
So if initially X+Y+Z was equal to let say 100%, then now X+Y+Z+65 will correspond to ((X+Y+Z+65) * 100 )/(X+Y+Z). clearly this will be greater than 100%. So this explain that overall percentage has increased.

Now, after increase individual % share will be
<13 yrs : X/(X+Y+65+Z), 13-55 yrs: Y+65/(X+Y+65+Z) and >55 yrs: Z/(X+Y+65+Z)

Clearly share of <13 yrs group and >55 yrs group has decreased than it was in 1995.

So D is correct

Guilio · Answer

Very tricky question.

A. People over the age of 55 produce more garbage than people less than the age of 13. We have no information about the amount of garbage produced by different groups, so this cannot be the answer.

B. Population has risen since 1995. Most probably, but not necessarily. Besides, the argument says that the age group between 13 and 55 constitutes a growing percentage of the population, hence we could assume some other group constitutes decreasing percentage of the population. Which one prevails is of course not clear.

C. People between the age of 13 and 55 are more than half of current population. We don't know the proportions.

D. Before 1995, people below age 13 and above age 55 produced higher percentage of total garbage than they do now. This one is tempting, so at first keep it in and read the last one. From the argument, the age group between 13 and 55 produces now more garbage than it did, meaning it amounts to greater portion of the  total garbage  than it used to. That implies, that other groups have to produce less - not in absolute amount, but in proportion to the whole population.  Hence D is correct.

E. People between the age of 13 and 55 produce more garbage than those below 13 or older than 55. Hm, this one could be true as well, but is not 100% supported by the argument. Let's go back to D.

Hope it's clear.

abrakadabra21 · Answer

Recent studies show that people between the ages of 13 and 55 produce 65 pounds more garbage per year than they did in 1995. This increase has led to a higher percentage of the total garbage produced by all the age groups. This age group constitutes a growing percentage of the population, so it partially explains this rise.

1995 1996

<13 a b
13-55 100k 100k+65
>55 c d

This will go on and on for every year 97,98..............
according to ques a+c< b+d+65

Which of the following can be concluded from passage?

A. People over the age of 55 produce more garbage than people less than the age of 13. you have no idea what a & c is or b&d is. which one is greater?? you don't know.
B. Population has risen since 1995. 13-55 age group population is increasing. but other groups might decrease or increase, also there is no correlation given for garbage produced and population
C. People between the age of 13 and 55 are more than half of current population. Again as A, not correct.
D. Before 1995, people below age 13 and above age 55 produced higher percentage of total garbage than they do now.

correct answer as per OA but Incorrect to me
you have data after 1995, you have no idea whatsoever before it. people between the ages of 13 and 55 produce 65 pounds more garbage per year than they produced in 1995 => so our analysis start from year 1995. even if I consider 1995 was less, what if there is one particular year from the beginning of the universe, the garbage was more than what it is produced now

E. People between the age of 13 and 55 produce more garbage than those below 13 or older than 55. Incorrect

cledgard · Answer

"people between the ages of 13 and 55 produce 65 pounds more garbage per year than they did in 1995" + "This age group constitutes a growing percentage of the population" = people between 13 & 55, produce a higher % than before; thus the rest produces a lower % than before.

Choice D  paraphrases this conclusion: the rest produces a lower percentage than before = "people below age 13 and above age 55 produced higher percentage of total garbage than they do now"

Abhishek009 · Answer

Population can be divided into 3 classes according to garbage production in the 1995 -

1. People below the age of 13 (a)
2. People between the age of 13 - 55 (b)
3. People above the age of 55 (c)

Now, Total Garbage production in 1995 is - ( a + b + c )
Total Production of garbage now is { a + ( b+65 ) + c }

If we assume that the total garbage production has not increases then we can attribute the higher percentage of garbage production to the people between the age of 13 - 55.

Or, we can say that  there is a reduction in garbage production by age group other than people between the age of 13 - 55  , since quantity of Garbage production has not increased...

Among the given options only (D) works perfect.. Hence answer is (D)

roadrunner · Answer

I'm no expert, not yet

, but here's my view: A fact cannot be disputed within the context of the argument, whereas all statements that you've highlighted as fact are open to debate. For example, choice B - argument mostly talks in percentage and doesn't mention anything about the # of people. So this statement can be contested. This is an inference question, so the answer must be true . Never read how many statements one must combine to get to the answer. Can you cite source of your reasoning?

Skywalker18 · Answer

Recent studies show that people between the ages of 13 and 55 produce 65 pounds more garbage per year than they did in 1995. This increase has led to a higher percentage of the total garbage produced by all the age groups. This age group constitutes a growing percentage of the population, so it partially explains this rise.

Type - Inference

A. People over the age of 55 produce more garbage than people less than the age of 13. - Out of scope

B. Population has risen since 1995. - Incorrect - we only know that age group 13-55 constitutes a growing percentage of the population . This scenario can occur even if the population of the other age groups decreases

C. People between the age of 13 and 55 are more than half of current population. - Out of scope

D. Before 1995, people below age 13 and above age 55 produced higher percentage of total garbage than they do now. - Correct

E. People between the age of 13 and 55 produce more garbage than those below 13 or older than 55. - Out of scope

OA- D - Should not the option talk about in 1995 ?

If D is changed to " In  1995, people below age 13 and above age 55 produced higher percentage of total garbage than they do now." , then it makes sense to me. But how can we infer about pre-1995?

AjiteshArun  ,  GMATNinja  ,  egmat  ,  RonPurewal  ,  DmitryFarber  ,  MagooshExpert  ,  ccooley  ,  ChiranjeevSingh ,  GMATGuruNY  ,  VeritasKarishma  , other experts-- please enlighten

AjiteshArun · Answer

I agree that it's misleading to use  in 1995  to talk about the entire period before 1995. However, going by the generally poor wording of the question ( this increase has led to a higher percentage of the total garbage produced by all the age groups ), it might be a good idea to check with a Manhattan instructor if this is actually one of their questions, and if it is, whether it has been reproduced correctly here.

AnkitNandwani1 · Answer

Choice 
 Keep or Reject? 
 Why Reject / Why Pick? 
 
   (A)  People over age 55 produce more garbage than people under age 13. 
 ❌ Reject 
 Passage says nothing comparing these two groups directly. 
 
   (B)  Population has risen since 1995. 
 ❌ Reject 
 Passage says this age group’s share rose. Total population size isn’t stated. 
 
   (C)  People 13–55 are more than half of current population. 
 ❌ Reject 
 Passage doesn’t give exact proportions, only that their share grew. Could still be under half. 
 
   (D)  Before 1995, people below 13 and above 55 produced higher % of total garbage than they do now. 
 ✅ Pick 
 Logical. Since 13–55 now make up a higher % of garbage, the  other groups must make up a lower %  than before. Supported by math. 
 
   (E)  People 13–55 produce more garbage than those below 13 or above 55. 
 ❌ Reject 
 Passage only discusses  per-person increase  and % share, not absolute total vs. other groups.

Recent studies show that people between the ages of 13 and 55 produce

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

Choice	Keep or Reject?	Why Reject / Why Pick?
(A) People over age 55 produce more garbage than people under age 13.	❌ Reject	Passage says nothing comparing these two groups directly.
(B) Population has risen since 1995.	❌ Reject	Passage says this age group’s share rose. Total population size isn’t stated.
(C) People 13–55 are more than half of current population.	❌ Reject	Passage doesn’t give exact proportions, only that their share grew. Could still be under half.
(D) Before 1995, people below 13 and above 55 produced higher % of total garbage than they do now.	✅ Pick	Logical. Since 13–55 now make up a higher % of garbage, the other groups must make up a lower % than before. Supported by math.
(E) People 13–55 produce more garbage than those below 13 or above 55.	❌ Reject	Passage only discusses per-person increase and % share, not absolute total vs. other groups.

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Recent studies show that people between the ages of 13 and 55 produce

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards