B or D

@avif, Let's take a look at (B), (D), and (E). In looking at the argument in the stimulus, we see that there is new information provided to us in the conclusion. We have the concept of maximizing profits appearing in the conclusion, but nowhere else. Maximizing profits isn't discussed anywhere else in the stimulus. All we know are that the older adults ar the most profitable segment of the market. However, even if the older adults are the most profitable demographic, there are a lot of potential reasons why targeting younger generations could help ad agencies maximize their clients' profits (maybe the older adults spend their money on the younger adults). This is the gap that we're looking to plug in this argument. We want to connect the concept in the conclusion to one of the premises in the argument. We know that the person wants ad companies to target older adults and the primary premise we get about the older adults is that they control more of the nation's personal income than does the rest of the population combined. Thus, the correct answer will likely say something like target the older adults who control more personal income than everybody else combined-->ag agencies will maximize their clients' profits (B) says, "No company can maximize its profits unless it markets its products primarily to a population segment that controls most of this nation’s personal disposable income." Diagramming (B), we get doesn't market products to people who control almost of the nation's disposable personal income-->will not maximize clients' profits This is the inverse of what we're looking for. We need to show that advertising to these people WILL result in profit maximization, not that avoiding them will not maximize profits, so (B) is out. (D) says, "No advertising agency that tailors its advertisements mainly to an audience that does not control much of this nation’s personal disposable income will maximize its clients’ profits." If we diagram this, we get target audience that doesn't control much of the nation's personal disposable income-->won't maximize clients' profits This basically says the same thing as (B) (it's the inverse of what we want), so it's out. (E) says, "Any advertising agency that gears its advertisements mainly to a population segment that controls 50 percent or more of this nation’s personal disposable income will maximize its clients’ profits." If we diagram (E), we get targets a population that controls 50% or more of the nation's personal disposable income-->maximizes clients' profits This is a tad bit different from our anticipation, but it does work to close the gap between the premises and the conclusion of the argument, making the argument valid. We know that older adults control more of the nation's personal disposable income than everybody else combined. This means that they control over half of the nation's personal disposable income. So, if we add (E) to the stimulus, targeting older adults will allow ad companies to maximize their clients' profits. Thus, (E) is correct. Does this make sense? Let us know if you have any other questions!

Yes! Thanks so much. I was confused between B and D because they were the same thing and you pointed out that they actually are the same thing. I didn't even consider E because of the interesting language but now that you explained it, it makes sense.

@avif, happy to hear the explanation helped. Keep up the great work!