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Difficulty: MediumExplaining Surprising Outcomes

City officials recently mandated that all newly constructed residential buildings be equipped with ultra-low-flow showerheads, which release 30 percent less water per minute than standard showerheads. The mandate was intended to reduce municipal water consumption. However, recent utility data reveals a surprising outcome: the average daily volume of water used specifically for showering per resident in these new buildings is 15 percent higher than in older buildings equipped with standard showerheads.

The following statement successfully resolves this apparent discrepancy: Residents in the newly constructed buildings tend to have larger households, meaning there are significantly more people taking showers each day compared to households in older buildings.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False. The provided statement does not resolve the apparent discrepancy.
The correct evaluation is False. The proposed statement commits a scope shift flaw, confusing total volume with per capita (per resident) volume. While larger households would increase the total amount of water used by an entire household, it does not explain why the average water used per individual resident has increased. To successfully resolve this specific paradox, a statement must explain why an individual person is using more water for showering despite the reduced flow rate—for instance, if residents were taking significantly longer showers because of the uncomfortably low water pressure.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the apparent discrepancy presented in the stimulus.
The paradox involves a conflict between more efficient showerheads (which use 30% less water per minute) and an unexpected increase in water usage specifically for showering per resident (which is 15% higher).
Identifying the precise components and modifiers of the paradox is the first step in logically evaluating any proposed resolution.
2
Evaluate the scope of the proposed resolution statement.
The statement proposes that the new buildings have 'larger households' with 'more people taking showers each day'.
We must determine if this new information logically connects the use of efficient showerheads to the higher per-resident usage.
3
Compare the metric in the statement to the metric in the discrepancy.
The discrepancy is measured strictly 'per resident', but the statement explains a potential increase in 'total household' usage.
A valid resolution must match the terms of the discrepancy. An increase in the number of users does not mathematically explain an increase in the average amount of water used by each individual user.

Key Concept

Scope Shift (Per Capita vs. Absolute Numbers)
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Topics

Explaining Surprising Outcomes

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