October 2010 LSAT Section 3 Question 16

Engineer: Thermophotovoltaic generators are devices that convert heat into electricity. The process of manufacturing...

Ryan on June 17, 2019

I get why C is right, but why is B wrong?

B strengthens the premise, and if negated the premise is useless, because if you can't use the TVCs, how would installing them save you any money?

Replies

Ravi on June 17, 2019

@Deke,

Happy to help. Let's look at (B).

(B) says, "Using current technology, it would be possible for
steel-manufacturing plants to feed the heat they produce into
thermophotovoltaic generators in such a way that those generators
could convert at least some of that heat into electricity."

(B)'s negation says, "Using current technology, it would be impossible
for steel-manufacturing plants to feed the heat they produce into
thermophotovoltaic generators in such a way that those generators
could convert at least some of that heat into electricity."

The problem with (B) is that the author merely made the claim that "if
steel-manufacturing plants could feed the heat...", and this does not
imply "current technology." Maybe current technology can't do this. If
(B) is negated, the argument doesn't fall apart, so this is why (B)
isn't a necessary premise.

Hope this helps. Let us know if you have any other questions!

Avi on May 21, 2020

Thanks for the explanation. That was a tricky one.