LSAT Explanation PT 29, S1, Q9: Jean: Our navigational equipment sells for

LSAT Question Stem

Jean's and Tracy's statements most strongly suggest that they disagree over which one of the following propositions? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Disagree question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. Jean presents a premise that their navigational equipment dominates the high end of the market but can increase overall sales by adding a low-cost model. This is Jean's conclusion. Tracy disagrees and presents a counter-argument. Her premise is that the company's equipment sells to consumers who associate the company with quality. Tracy's conclusion is that moving into the low-cost market could hurt their overall sales by putting their competitors in the high-cost market on an equal footing.

Now, let's move on to the question type. This is a Disagree question, which asks us to identify the proposition over which Jean and Tracy disagree.

Let's analyze each answer choice:

a) There is a greater potential for profits in the low-cost market than there is in the high-cost market.

This answer choice is not supported by the passage. Neither Jean nor Tracy directly addresses the potential for profits in the low-cost market compared to the high-cost market.

b) The proposed cheaper model, if it were made available, would sell to customers who would otherwise be buying the company's present model.

This answer choice is also not supported by the passage. Both Jean and Tracy might actually agree that this is not true, so it cannot be a point of disagreement.

c) The company could dominate the low-cost market in the same way it has dominated the high-cost market.

This answer choice can be eliminated because of the phrase "in the same way." Jean only commits to the idea that the company will make at least some money by having a product in the low-end market, not necessarily that they will dominate it in the same way.

d) The company would no longer dominate the high-cost market if it began selling a low-cost model.

This answer choice captures the disagreement between Jean and Tracy. Jean believes that the company can continue to dominate the high-cost market while also selling a low-cost model, while Tracy believes that moving into the low-cost market could hurt their overall sales by putting their competitors in the high-cost market on an equal footing. Although the wording may not be perfect, this answer choice is the best representation of their disagreement.

e) Decreased sales of the high-cost model would result in poor sales for the proposed low-cost model.

Neither Jean nor Tracy presented a hypothesis that decreased high-end sales would cause bad low-end sales. This answer choice is not supported by the passage.

Therefore, the correct answer is D.