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Difficulty: MediumExplaining Surprising Outcomes

A city recently installed "smart" traffic lights at all major intersections, which use real-time data to optimize traffic flow and reduce vehicle idling time. Surprisingly, in the six months since the installation of these smart lights, the average commute time during rush hour in the city has increased by 15 percent.

The fact that the new smart traffic lights have virtually eliminated traffic accidents, which were previously the leading cause of rush-hour delays in the city, helps to resolve this apparent discrepancy.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False, the statement does not help to resolve the apparent discrepancy; it actually deepens the paradox.
The statement is false because the provided fact deepens the mystery rather than explaining it. If the new traffic lights eliminated the leading cause of rush-hour delays, we would expect average commute times to decrease drastically. The fact that commute times instead increased by 15 percent becomes even more contradictory and surprising in light of this new information.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the core paradox in the stimulus.
The paradox is that new technology designed to optimize traffic flow and reduce idling has coincided with a surprising 15 percent increase in rush-hour commute times.
Understanding the exact nature of the discrepancy is required before evaluating any potential resolution.
2
Analyze what the provided statement contributes to the scenario.
The statement reveals that the new smart lights successfully eliminated traffic accidents, which used to be the primary cause of delays in the city.
We must determine how this new piece of information interacts with the existing, conflicting facts.
3
Evaluate if the new information explains the surprising outcome.
It does the exact opposite. If the leading cause of delays was eliminated, commute times should have dropped significantly. The 15 percent increase is now much harder to understand.
A valid resolution must provide a mechanism showing how the two seemingly contradictory facts can coexist. A statement that deepens the mystery is a trap and does not resolve the discrepancy.

Key Concept

Eliminating Paradox-Deepening Traps
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Topics

Explaining Surprising Outcomes

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