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Scientists have determined that Radon - a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas - is unstable because of its radioactive nature and continuously decays into Progeny.   Since it has been proven that there was no Progeny at the time of earth’s formation, one can accurately estimate earth’s age by determining the increase in Progeny in earth’s atmosphere over the last 200 years and using it to determine how many years it would have taken to reach current levels of Progeny.
The answer to which of the following questions would be most important in determining whether using the method would help in achieving the stated objective?
  • a)
    Whether the rate of decay of Radon into Progeny is different during day time and night time?
  • b)
    Whether Progeny is stable or gets converted into some other gas at constant rate?
  • c)
    Whether there have been any changes in the atmosphere in the past century that have increased the radioactivity decay level of all gases?
  • d)
    Whether there are methods, better than the method given, to estimate the earth’s age?
  • e)
    Whether amount of Radon or Progeny varies from region to region?
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Scientists have determined thatRadon- a colorless, odorless, and taste...
Scientists have determined that Radon - a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas - is unstable because of its radioactive nature and continuously decays into Progeny.   Since it has been proven that there was no Progeny at the time of earth’s formation, one can accurately estimate earth’s age by determining the increase in Progeny in earth’s atmosphere over the last 200 years and using it to determine how many years it would have taken to reach current levels of Progeny.
The answer to which of the following questions would be most important in determining whether using the method would help in achieving the stated objective?
Argument Analysis
Scientists have determined that Radon - a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas - is unstable because of its radioactive nature and continuously decays into Progeny.   Since it has been proven that there was no Progeny at the time of earth’s formation, one can accurately estimate earth’s age by determining the increase in Progeny in earth’s atmosphere over the last 200 years and using it to determine how many years it would have taken to reach current levels of Progeny.
Pre-Thinking
While making his claim, the author assumes that the rate of change of Progeny over the past 200 years is representative of the rate of change of Progeny over the course of history of earth.  If this is not the case, i.e. if the rate of change today is much lower or much higher than what it used to be in the past, then the estimates would either be too high or too low.
Answer Choices
A
Whether the rate of decay of Radon into Progeny is different during day time and night time?
This is irrelevant. Even if the rates are different during day time from night time, it doesn’t impact the estimate. Incorrect.
B
Whether Progeny is stable or gets converted into some other gas at constant rate?
Incorrect.
There are two cases to consider in this option statement:
  1. Progeny is stable: In this case, the estimate should work perfectly fine. Progeny gets converted into some other gas at constant rate – Since this conversion happens both during the last 200 years and the time since the formation of earth, it doesn’t distort the estimate. This is because such constant conversion impacts the increase in gas in the last 200 years in the same proportion as the increase in gas in the time since the formation of earth. Thus, an estimate of the earth’s age, which would be calculated as below, will not be affected.
  2. Earth’s Age: Total Amount of Progeny in the atmosphere currently*200/Increase in the amount of Progeny in the atmosphere in the last 200 years
C
Whether there have been any changes in the atmosphere in the past century that have increased the radioactivity decay level of all gases?
As we discussed in the Pre-thinking stage, if this given option statement is true, last 200 years of data regarding increase in progeny would not be representative of the time since the formation of Earth. Therefore, we need to find out the answer to this question to know whether the data of increase of Progeny in the last 200 years can be used to estimate the Earth’s age. Correct.
D
Whether there are methods, better than the method given, to estimate the earth’s age?
We are not concerned with an answer to this. Incorrect.
E
Whether amount of Radon or Progeny varies from region to region?
Since we are considering the earth’s atmosphere as a whole, even if Progeny varies from region to region, it doesn’t impact the estimate because we are taking into account all the regions. Incorrect.
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Scientists have determined thatRadon- a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas - is unstable because of its radioactive nature and continuously decays into Progeny. Since it has been proven that there was no Progeny at the time of earth’s formation, one can accurately estimate earth’s age by determining the increase in Progeny in earth’s atmosphere over the last 200 years and using it to determine how many years it would have taken to reach current levels of Progeny.The answer to which of the following questions would be most important in determining whether using the method would help in achieving the stated objective?a)Whether the rate of decay of Radon into Progeny is different during day time and night time?b)Whether Progeny is stable or gets converted into some other gas at constant rate?c)Whether there have been any changes in the atmosphere in the past century that have increased the radioactivity decay level of all gases?d)Whether there are methods, better than the method given, to estimate the earth’s age?e)Whether amount of Radon or Progeny varies from region to region?Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
Scientists have determined thatRadon- a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas - is unstable because of its radioactive nature and continuously decays into Progeny. Since it has been proven that there was no Progeny at the time of earth’s formation, one can accurately estimate earth’s age by determining the increase in Progeny in earth’s atmosphere over the last 200 years and using it to determine how many years it would have taken to reach current levels of Progeny.The answer to which of the following questions would be most important in determining whether using the method would help in achieving the stated objective?a)Whether the rate of decay of Radon into Progeny is different during day time and night time?b)Whether Progeny is stable or gets converted into some other gas at constant rate?c)Whether there have been any changes in the atmosphere in the past century that have increased the radioactivity decay level of all gases?d)Whether there are methods, better than the method given, to estimate the earth’s age?e)Whether amount of Radon or Progeny varies from region to region?Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? for GMAT 2024 is part of GMAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the GMAT exam syllabus. Information about Scientists have determined thatRadon- a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas - is unstable because of its radioactive nature and continuously decays into Progeny. Since it has been proven that there was no Progeny at the time of earth’s formation, one can accurately estimate earth’s age by determining the increase in Progeny in earth’s atmosphere over the last 200 years and using it to determine how many years it would have taken to reach current levels of Progeny.The answer to which of the following questions would be most important in determining whether using the method would help in achieving the stated objective?a)Whether the rate of decay of Radon into Progeny is different during day time and night time?b)Whether Progeny is stable or gets converted into some other gas at constant rate?c)Whether there have been any changes in the atmosphere in the past century that have increased the radioactivity decay level of all gases?d)Whether there are methods, better than the method given, to estimate the earth’s age?e)Whether amount of Radon or Progeny varies from region to region?Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Scientists have determined thatRadon- a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas - is unstable because of its radioactive nature and continuously decays into Progeny. Since it has been proven that there was no Progeny at the time of earth’s formation, one can accurately estimate earth’s age by determining the increase in Progeny in earth’s atmosphere over the last 200 years and using it to determine how many years it would have taken to reach current levels of Progeny.The answer to which of the following questions would be most important in determining whether using the method would help in achieving the stated objective?a)Whether the rate of decay of Radon into Progeny is different during day time and night time?b)Whether Progeny is stable or gets converted into some other gas at constant rate?c)Whether there have been any changes in the atmosphere in the past century that have increased the radioactivity decay level of all gases?d)Whether there are methods, better than the method given, to estimate the earth’s age?e)Whether amount of Radon or Progeny varies from region to region?Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Scientists have determined thatRadon- a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas - is unstable because of its radioactive nature and continuously decays into Progeny. Since it has been proven that there was no Progeny at the time of earth’s formation, one can accurately estimate earth’s age by determining the increase in Progeny in earth’s atmosphere over the last 200 years and using it to determine how many years it would have taken to reach current levels of Progeny.The answer to which of the following questions would be most important in determining whether using the method would help in achieving the stated objective?a)Whether the rate of decay of Radon into Progeny is different during day time and night time?b)Whether Progeny is stable or gets converted into some other gas at constant rate?c)Whether there have been any changes in the atmosphere in the past century that have increased the radioactivity decay level of all gases?d)Whether there are methods, better than the method given, to estimate the earth’s age?e)Whether amount of Radon or Progeny varies from region to region?Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for GMAT. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for GMAT Exam by signing up for free.
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Since it has been proven that there was no Progeny at the time of earth’s formation, one can accurately estimate earth’s age by determining the increase in Progeny in earth’s atmosphere over the last 200 years and using it to determine how many years it would have taken to reach current levels of Progeny.The answer to which of the following questions would be most important in determining whether using the method would help in achieving the stated objective?a)Whether the rate of decay of Radon into Progeny is different during day time and night time?b)Whether Progeny is stable or gets converted into some other gas at constant rate?c)Whether there have been any changes in the atmosphere in the past century that have increased the radioactivity decay level of all gases?d)Whether there are methods, better than the method given, to estimate the earth’s age?e)Whether amount of Radon or Progeny varies from region to region?Correct answer is option 'C'. 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Since it has been proven that there was no Progeny at the time of earth’s formation, one can accurately estimate earth’s age by determining the increase in Progeny in earth’s atmosphere over the last 200 years and using it to determine how many years it would have taken to reach current levels of Progeny.The answer to which of the following questions would be most important in determining whether using the method would help in achieving the stated objective?a)Whether the rate of decay of Radon into Progeny is different during day time and night time?b)Whether Progeny is stable or gets converted into some other gas at constant rate?c)Whether there have been any changes in the atmosphere in the past century that have increased the radioactivity decay level of all gases?d)Whether there are methods, better than the method given, to estimate the earth’s age?e)Whether amount of Radon or Progeny varies from region to region?Correct answer is option 'C'. 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Since it has been proven that there was no Progeny at the time of earth’s formation, one can accurately estimate earth’s age by determining the increase in Progeny in earth’s atmosphere over the last 200 years and using it to determine how many years it would have taken to reach current levels of Progeny.The answer to which of the following questions would be most important in determining whether using the method would help in achieving the stated objective?a)Whether the rate of decay of Radon into Progeny is different during day time and night time?b)Whether Progeny is stable or gets converted into some other gas at constant rate?c)Whether there have been any changes in the atmosphere in the past century that have increased the radioactivity decay level of all gases?d)Whether there are methods, better than the method given, to estimate the earth’s age?e)Whether amount of Radon or Progeny varies from region to region?Correct answer is option 'C'. 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Since it has been proven that there was no Progeny at the time of earth’s formation, one can accurately estimate earth’s age by determining the increase in Progeny in earth’s atmosphere over the last 200 years and using it to determine how many years it would have taken to reach current levels of Progeny.The answer to which of the following questions would be most important in determining whether using the method would help in achieving the stated objective?a)Whether the rate of decay of Radon into Progeny is different during day time and night time?b)Whether Progeny is stable or gets converted into some other gas at constant rate?c)Whether there have been any changes in the atmosphere in the past century that have increased the radioactivity decay level of all gases?d)Whether there are methods, better than the method given, to estimate the earth’s age?e)Whether amount of Radon or Progeny varies from region to region?Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Scientists have determined thatRadon- a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas - is unstable because of its radioactive nature and continuously decays into Progeny. Since it has been proven that there was no Progeny at the time of earth’s formation, one can accurately estimate earth’s age by determining the increase in Progeny in earth’s atmosphere over the last 200 years and using it to determine how many years it would have taken to reach current levels of Progeny.The answer to which of the following questions would be most important in determining whether using the method would help in achieving the stated objective?a)Whether the rate of decay of Radon into Progeny is different during day time and night time?b)Whether Progeny is stable or gets converted into some other gas at constant rate?c)Whether there have been any changes in the atmosphere in the past century that have increased the radioactivity decay level of all gases?d)Whether there are methods, better than the method given, to estimate the earth’s age?e)Whether amount of Radon or Progeny varies from region to region?Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice GMAT tests.
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