Clearly, while comparing two companies, higher sales do not necessaril...
Clearly, while comparing two companies, higher sales do not necessarily indicate higher profits. A recently published article in a prominent business magazine shows that the top ten names on the list of companies with the highest sales and the corresponding names on the list of companies with the highest profits are mutually exclusive.
Which of the following can properly be inferred based on the above statements?
Argument Analysis
Pre-Thinking
Conclusion Clarification
N/ A
Pre-Thinking Approach
In order to see which statement can be inferred by the passage, we need to observe all the facts given in the argument and see what must also be true if the information in the passage is true.
Linkage # 1
Since the given information shows that just by looking at the sales figures we cannot estimate the comparative profitability of two companies, we can infer that:
Inference1: The relative profitability of a company vis-a-vis another’s cannot be judged solely by looking at the companies’ sales figures.
Inference2:It is possible that even though a company has relatively lower sales, it is more profitable than the other company.
With this understanding in mind, let's take a look at the passage analysis.
Answer Choices
A
While comparing two companies, the company with higher sales is more likely to have lower profits.
Incorrect - No information given
The passage does not state any inverse correlation with sales and profits. It just says that higher sales do not always translate into higher profits.
B
It is highly likely that two companies with different sales have the same profit margins.
Incorrect - No information given
The passage makes no statement about similarity in profit margins.
C
Sales and profits have no correlation.
Incorrect - No information given
The passage states that higher sales do not always mean higher profits. This statement does not mean that for a company higher sales will not translate in to higher profits.
D
While comparing two companies, lower sales do not by themselves indicate lower profits.
Correct
This option is written along the lines of our pre-thinking per Inference # 2.
E
In order to compete in the market, it is better for a company to have higher profits than higher sales.
Incorrect - No information given
First of all, the author doesn’t say that a company cannot have both higher sales and profits. Second of all, the author never comments on what is better for competing in the market.