PrepTest 143

Incorrect. While this answer aligns with the stimulus and establishes a trend, it doesn't suggest how this is true in light of each region seeing an increase in the hourly full-time wage.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Paradox

Stimulus Summary:
Each region Ð The average hourly wage for full-time jobs increased last year
Whole country Ð The average hourly wage for full-time jobs decreased last year

Answer Anticipation:
For the average hourly wage for full-time jobs to increase, either all workers needed to see an increase in their hourly wage, or the number of workers that saw that number go up has to balance out the numbers who saw it go down, weighted by the change.

For the average hourly wage for full-time jobs to decrease, either all workers needed to see a decrease in their hourly wage, or the number of workers that saw that number go down has to balance out the number who saw it go up, weighted by the change.

For one to be true of each region while the other is true of the country, then individuals and jobs must have shifted from the high-wage regions to the low-wage regions so that each region could have an increase in average wages while the number of people in the lower-wage jobs increased and the higher-wage jobs decreased.

Answer Explanation:
If there are significantly more jobs now in areas with lower hourly wages and fewer in areas with higher hourly wages, this could bring the average down overall while each region increased its hourly wages. This explains the paradox, and is probably the math-iest the LSAT has ever been!

Key Takeaway:
This is probably the math-iest the LSAT has ever been, so don't worry if that aspect was a little confusing—you're unlikely to see something at or above this level again. That said, remember its lesson—when talking averages, the total amount can get obscured while still being related to the number stated! Use that to help you find an answer in that area.

Incorrect. The unemployment rate wouldn't affect the average wage for full-time workers since the unemployed aren't full-time workers.

Incorrect. This answer is trying to get you to think that maybe the areas with higher full-time wages increased more slowly, thus dragging the average down. And while this would mean that the increase in wages is slower than it might have been, this would still suggest that the overall average went up.

Incorrect. The breakdown of the wages between sectors doesn't matter unless somehow tied to higher and lower averages. Since we don't know if manufacturing workers or service workers made more, this answer really doesn't provide any information that helps us evaluate the stimulus. It's relying on you picking it because it says something went up and something went down, which parallels the stimulus, but it's also a hint that it's a trap!