Q35: In Patton City, days are categorized as having heavy

Question

Q35:
In Patton City, days are categorized as having heavy rainfall (more than two inches), moderate rainfall (more than one inch, but no more than two inches), light rainfall (at least a trace, but no more than one inch), or no rainfall. In 1990, there were fewer dayswith light rainfall than in 1910 and fewer with moderate rainfall, yet total rainfall for the year was 20 percent higher in 1990 than in 1910.

If the statements above are true, then it is also possible that in Patton City
A. the number of days with heavy rainfall was lower in 1990 than in 1910
B. the number of days with some rainfall, but no more than two inches, was the same in 1990 as in 1910
C. the number of days with some rainfall, but no more than two inches, was higher in 1990 than in 1910
D. the total number of inches of rain that fell on days with moderate rainfall in 1990 was more than twice what it had been in 1910
E. the average amount of rainfall per month was lower in 1990 than in 1910


RA later. Explanations plz. Thanks.

syamee_u · Answer

D - best answer and possible explanation for the paradox. 

number of inches of rain atleast should be more to compensate the number of days.

Direwolf · Answer

Agreed, D for me as well.

dips · Answer

A.

sidbidus · Answer

Even I'll go with  (D) . 

Only D explains for the 20% higher in rainfall in 1990 than in 1910.

klong009 · Answer

I say A - all of the others are impossible. 

It says that there are fewer light rainfall days and fewer moderate rainfall days in 1990 than 1910. So, the combined light rainfall days and moderate rainfall days must be fewer in 1990 than 1910. Therefore, B and C are impossible. 

D is the trickest to eliminate - I hope this explanation makes sense. Since there were fewer days of moderate rainfall in 1990 than 1910, D is also impossible. For there to be more than twice as much total rainfall on moderate days in 1990, there must have been more days of moderate rainfall in 1990 than 1910. For it to be a moderate rainfall day, total rainfall must have been above 1.0, and below or equal to 2.0. Even if the min amount to be "moderate" (>1.0) fell for every day in 1910 and the max (2.0) fell for every day in 1990, you still need more moderate days in 1990 than 1910 to get more than twice as much total rainfall.

Finally, if the total rainfall for the year in 1990 was 20% higher than 1910, the average amount of rainfall per month must have been higher as well (120%/12). Eliminate E.

A is the only possible answer. It is possible for the total days of heavy rainfall to be lower, but the total amount could have been high enough to account for the difference in total rainfall for the year.

mbunny · Answer

Agree with D.

I don't think A is correct because the stimulus says "In 1990, there were fewer days with light rainfall than in 1910 and fewer with moderate rainfall".

There are 365 days per year.

Assume that :
the number of Light Rain + Moderate Rain days in 1990 = 200 (fewer days than 1910)
the number of Light Rain + Moderate Rain days in 1910 = 250

the number of heavy rain day in 1990 = 365-200 = 165
the number of heavy rain day in 1990 = 365-250 = 115

Few L + M rain days in 1990 compared to 1910 means more heavy rain days in 1990 than in 1910. There, A is impossible.

What's the OA?

boubi · Answer

Go for A 
Because it is the only answer that adress heavy rainfall and heavy rainfall is the only that is not bounded=> 2 inch to infinte possible amount of water therefore we can speculate and say that for one day god came down on earth and flood everything (except him and the animals in the arch) and the total amount of water could be more in the year 1990 although having only one day of heavy rainfall

klong009 · Answer

There's one more variable - days of the year with no rain. So it is possible to have fewer days of light rain, moderate rain and heavy rain in 1990 than 1910. 1990 would just have to have more days of no rain than 1910.

saransh · Answer

A is possible.
It is possible to have fewr days of high rainfall in 1990 compared to what in 1910 but still the inches of rain more. It can be anywhere above 2 Inches.

D can be true but it requires more mathematical computaions to be true.
Si i will stick with A.

~sara

UMB · Answer

OA/ RA is A. I met this problem 2 times and each time chose D

. Now I got why I am wrong. :-D THANK you all for discussion. U are all great.

Q35: In Patton City, days are categorized as having heavy

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