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Researchers have found that children as young as two year old toddlers use mathematical concepts such as probability to understand the world around them and make decisions accordingly. In an experiment conducted to study such behaviour, toddlers observed an experimenter play a game with two different colored buttons. The pressing of the button would sometimes release a marble and sometimes not. When these toddlers were asked to play the same game, 23 out of 32 toddlers chose to press the button that was more successful in generating a marble.
Which of the following, if true, is important to rule out the possibility that the toddlers made a choice purely based on frequency, i.e. the number of times a button returned marbles, rather than probability?
  • a)
    The toddlers who chose the button that returned a marble fewer number of times were measured to have the same IQ as the ones who chose the other button.
  • b)
    None of the toddlers were found to have color-blindness and could differentiate between the two buttons on the basis of their colors.
  • c)
    During the experimenter's turn at the game, both the buttons generated a marble the same number of times, though the number of attempts for each button varied significantly. 
  • d)
    19 out of 23 toddlers who chose the button that was more successful in generating marbles belonged to families in which one of the parents was a Mathematics teacher. 
  • e)
    Both the buttons released marbles with the same number of unsuccessful attempts between two successful ones. 
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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Researchers have found that children as young as two year old toddlers...
Researchers have found that children as young as two year old toddlers use mathematical concepts such as probability to understand the world around them and make decisions accordingly. In an experiment conducted to study such behaviour, toddlers observed an experimenter play a game with two different colored buttons. The pressing of the button would sometimes release a marble and sometimes not. When these toddlers were asked to play the same game, 23 out of 32 toddlers chose to press the button that was more successful in generating a marble.
Which of the following, if true, is important to rule out the possibility that the toddlers made a choice purely based on frequency, i.e. the number of times a button returned marbles, rather than probability?
Argument Analysis
Pre-Thinking
Conclusion Clarification
There is no conclusion given by the author per se. However, we are given the results of an experiment to illustrate that toddlers use mathematical concepts such as probability to make decisions in their life.
Pre-Thinking Approach
We are told that when the toddlers, who observed the experimenter, were asked to play the same game, most of them chose to press the button that was more successful in generating a marble. However, how did the children define this “success”? Did they consider only the number of times the marble was released on pressing a particular button or did they factor in the total attempts as well (number of times marble released/ total attempts = probability)?
Accordingly, the question stem asks us to rule out one such explanation- the frequency or the number of times a button released marbles (irrespective) of the total number of attempts for that button.
Now, the researchers’ conclusion about the use of probability by the toddlers to make their decisions while playing the stated game will be more validly drawn if we had some idea about both the total number of attempts for each button and the number of times a marble was successfully returned by each of the two buttons.
With this understanding in mind, let’s evaluate the given answer choices.
 
Answer Choices
A
The toddlers who chose the button that returned a marble fewer number of times were measured to have the same IQ as the ones who chose the other button.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
This choice talks about the IQ of toddlers, which has no established link in the argument with the choices they made. Secondly, this choice states that one of the two buttons released more marbles- a piece of information that is in the opposite direction to our stated task in the question.
B
None of the toddlers were found to have color-blindness and could differentiate between the two buttons on the basis of their colors.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
While this choice helps determine that a possible extraneous factor did not impact the choice of the toddlers, it does not help us establish anything about the frequency of the marbles returned on pressing the buttons.
C
During the experimenter's turn at the game, both the buttons generated a marble the same number of times, though the number of attempts for each button varied significantly. 
Correct
This is the correct choice as it rules out the possibility that the toddlers considered only the number of times a button generated a marble. It gives the required information discussed in the pre-thinking analysis.
D
19 out of 23 toddlers who chose the button that was more successful in generating marbles belonged to families in which one of the parents was a Mathematics teacher. 
Incorrect - Irrelevant
The family background has no stated or implied link with the choice the toddlers made. 
E
Both the buttons released marbles with the same number of unsuccessful attempts between two successful ones. 
Incorrect - Irrelevant
This choice does not help establish the overall number of attempts for both the buttons and the number of times each button returned a marble. Hence, it does not provide any relevant information.
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Researchers have found that children as young as two year old toddlers use mathematical concepts such as probability to understand the world around them and make decisions accordingly. In an experiment conducted to study such behaviour, toddlers observed an experimenter play a game with two different colored buttons. The pressing of the button would sometimes release a marble and sometimes not. When these toddlers were asked to play the same game, 23 out of 32 toddlers chose to press the button that was more successful in generating a marble.Which of the following, if true, is important to rule out the possibility that the toddlers made a choice purely based on frequency, i.e. the number of times a button returned marbles, rather than probability?a)The toddlers who chose the button that returned a marble fewer number of times were measured to have the same IQ as the ones who chose the other button.b)None of the toddlers were found to have color-blindness and could differentiate between the two buttons on the basis of their colors.c)During the experimenter's turn at the game, both the buttons generated a marble the same number of times, though the number of attempts for each button varied significantly.d)19 out of 23 toddlers who chose the button that was more successful in generating marbles belonged to families in which one of the parents was a Mathematics teacher.e)Both the buttons released marbles with the same number of unsuccessful attempts between two successful ones.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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Researchers have found that children as young as two year old toddlers use mathematical concepts such as probability to understand the world around them and make decisions accordingly. In an experiment conducted to study such behaviour, toddlers observed an experimenter play a game with two different colored buttons. The pressing of the button would sometimes release a marble and sometimes not. When these toddlers were asked to play the same game, 23 out of 32 toddlers chose to press the button that was more successful in generating a marble.Which of the following, if true, is important to rule out the possibility that the toddlers made a choice purely based on frequency, i.e. the number of times a button returned marbles, rather than probability?a)The toddlers who chose the button that returned a marble fewer number of times were measured to have the same IQ as the ones who chose the other button.b)None of the toddlers were found to have color-blindness and could differentiate between the two buttons on the basis of their colors.c)During the experimenter's turn at the game, both the buttons generated a marble the same number of times, though the number of attempts for each button varied significantly.d)19 out of 23 toddlers who chose the button that was more successful in generating marbles belonged to families in which one of the parents was a Mathematics teacher.e)Both the buttons released marbles with the same number of unsuccessful attempts between two successful ones.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 Researchers have found that children as young as two year old toddlers use mathematical concepts such as probability to understand the world around them and make decisions accordingly. In an experiment conducted to study such behaviour, toddlers observed an experimenter play a game with two different colored buttons. The pressing of the button would sometimes release a marble and sometimes not. When these toddlers were asked to play the same game, 23 out of 32 toddlers chose to press the button that was more successful in generating a marble.Which of the following, if true, is important to rule out the possibility that the toddlers made a choice purely based on frequency, i.e. the number of times a button returned marbles, rather than probability?a)The toddlers who chose the button that returned a marble fewer number of times were measured to have the same IQ as the ones who chose the other button.b)None of the toddlers were found to have color-blindness and could differentiate between the two buttons on the basis of their colors.c)During the experimenter's turn at the game, both the buttons generated a marble the same number of times, though the number of attempts for each button varied significantly.d)19 out of 23 toddlers who chose the button that was more successful in generating marbles belonged to families in which one of the parents was a Mathematics teacher.e)Both the buttons released marbles with the same number of unsuccessful attempts between two successful ones.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 Researchers have found that children as young as two year old toddlers use mathematical concepts such as probability to understand the world around them and make decisions accordingly. In an experiment conducted to study such behaviour, toddlers observed an experimenter play a game with two different colored buttons. The pressing of the button would sometimes release a marble and sometimes not. When these toddlers were asked to play the same game, 23 out of 32 toddlers chose to press the button that was more successful in generating a marble.Which of the following, if true, is important to rule out the possibility that the toddlers made a choice purely based on frequency, i.e. the number of times a button returned marbles, rather than probability?a)The toddlers who chose the button that returned a marble fewer number of times were measured to have the same IQ as the ones who chose the other button.b)None of the toddlers were found to have color-blindness and could differentiate between the two buttons on the basis of their colors.c)During the experimenter's turn at the game, both the buttons generated a marble the same number of times, though the number of attempts for each button varied significantly.d)19 out of 23 toddlers who chose the button that was more successful in generating marbles belonged to families in which one of the parents was a Mathematics teacher.e)Both the buttons released marbles with the same number of unsuccessful attempts between two successful ones.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?.
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When these toddlers were asked to play the same game, 23 out of 32 toddlers chose to press the button that was more successful in generating a marble.Which of the following, if true, is important to rule out the possibility that the toddlers made a choice purely based on frequency, i.e. the number of times a button returned marbles, rather than probability?a)The toddlers who chose the button that returned a marble fewer number of times were measured to have the same IQ as the ones who chose the other button.b)None of the toddlers were found to have color-blindness and could differentiate between the two buttons on the basis of their colors.c)During the experimenter's turn at the game, both the buttons generated a marble the same number of times, though the number of attempts for each button varied significantly.d)19 out of 23 toddlers who chose the button that was more successful in generating marbles belonged to families in which one of the parents was a Mathematics teacher.e)Both the buttons released marbles with the same number of unsuccessful attempts between two successful ones.Correct answer is option 'C'. 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When these toddlers were asked to play the same game, 23 out of 32 toddlers chose to press the button that was more successful in generating a marble.Which of the following, if true, is important to rule out the possibility that the toddlers made a choice purely based on frequency, i.e. the number of times a button returned marbles, rather than probability?a)The toddlers who chose the button that returned a marble fewer number of times were measured to have the same IQ as the ones who chose the other button.b)None of the toddlers were found to have color-blindness and could differentiate between the two buttons on the basis of their colors.c)During the experimenter's turn at the game, both the buttons generated a marble the same number of times, though the number of attempts for each button varied significantly.d)19 out of 23 toddlers who chose the button that was more successful in generating marbles belonged to families in which one of the parents was a Mathematics teacher.e)Both the buttons released marbles with the same number of unsuccessful attempts between two successful ones.Correct answer is option 'C'. 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When these toddlers were asked to play the same game, 23 out of 32 toddlers chose to press the button that was more successful in generating a marble.Which of the following, if true, is important to rule out the possibility that the toddlers made a choice purely based on frequency, i.e. the number of times a button returned marbles, rather than probability?a)The toddlers who chose the button that returned a marble fewer number of times were measured to have the same IQ as the ones who chose the other button.b)None of the toddlers were found to have color-blindness and could differentiate between the two buttons on the basis of their colors.c)During the experimenter's turn at the game, both the buttons generated a marble the same number of times, though the number of attempts for each button varied significantly.d)19 out of 23 toddlers who chose the button that was more successful in generating marbles belonged to families in which one of the parents was a Mathematics teacher.e)Both the buttons released marbles with the same number of unsuccessful attempts between two successful ones.Correct answer is option 'C'. 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When these toddlers were asked to play the same game, 23 out of 32 toddlers chose to press the button that was more successful in generating a marble.Which of the following, if true, is important to rule out the possibility that the toddlers made a choice purely based on frequency, i.e. the number of times a button returned marbles, rather than probability?a)The toddlers who chose the button that returned a marble fewer number of times were measured to have the same IQ as the ones who chose the other button.b)None of the toddlers were found to have color-blindness and could differentiate between the two buttons on the basis of their colors.c)During the experimenter's turn at the game, both the buttons generated a marble the same number of times, though the number of attempts for each button varied significantly.d)19 out of 23 toddlers who chose the button that was more successful in generating marbles belonged to families in which one of the parents was a Mathematics teacher.e)Both the buttons released marbles with the same number of unsuccessful attempts between two successful ones.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Researchers have found that children as young as two year old toddlers use mathematical concepts such as probability to understand the world around them and make decisions accordingly. In an experiment conducted to study such behaviour, toddlers observed an experimenter play a game with two different colored buttons. The pressing of the button would sometimes release a marble and sometimes not. When these toddlers were asked to play the same game, 23 out of 32 toddlers chose to press the button that was more successful in generating a marble.Which of the following, if true, is important to rule out the possibility that the toddlers made a choice purely based on frequency, i.e. the number of times a button returned marbles, rather than probability?a)The toddlers who chose the button that returned a marble fewer number of times were measured to have the same IQ as the ones who chose the other button.b)None of the toddlers were found to have color-blindness and could differentiate between the two buttons on the basis of their colors.c)During the experimenter's turn at the game, both the buttons generated a marble the same number of times, though the number of attempts for each button varied significantly.d)19 out of 23 toddlers who chose the button that was more successful in generating marbles belonged to families in which one of the parents was a Mathematics teacher.e)Both the buttons released marbles with the same number of unsuccessful attempts between two successful ones.Correct answer is option 'C'. 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