Reading ComprehensionDifficulty: Medium

PT129 S4 P4 Q27 Explanation

Fractal Geometry

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Reading Comprehension question.

TopicsInferenceScience

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Passage

Fractal geometry is a mathematical theory devoted to the study of complex shapes called fractals. Although an exact definition of fractals has not been established, fractals commonly exhibit the property of self-similarity: the reiteration of irregular details or patterns at progressively smaller scales so that each part, when magnified, looks basically like and then the process is repeated indefinitely on the segments at each stage of the construction.

Self-similarity is built into the construction process by treating segments at each stage the same way as the original segment was treated. Since the rules for getting from one stage to another are fully explicit and always the same, images of successive stages of the process can be generated by computer. Theoretically, illustrates a major attraction of fractal geometry: simple processes can be responsible for incredibly complex patterns.

A worldwide public has become captivated by fractal geometry after viewing astonishing computer-generated images of fractals; enthusiastic practitioners in the field of fractal geometry consider it a new language for describing complex natural and mathematical forms. They anticipate that fractal geometry's significance will rival that of calculus and expect that proficiency in in mathematics only if it becomes a precise language supporting a system of theorems and proofs.

What this question is testing

Inference

Your task

Find what must be true based on what the passage or stimulus states.

Common trap

Answers that are plausible or likely but not actually guaranteed by the text.

Winning move

Keep only the choice the statements fully support — eliminate anything that requires an extra assumption.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question
27.

The information in the passage best supports which one of the

Answer choices

  1. Too Strong2% picked this

    The appeal of a mathematical theory is limited to those individuals who can grasp the theorems and proofs

    Too Strong: limited to Opposite, if anything This is saying that "only people who can grasp the theorems and proofs produced in a theory can find that theory appealing". That seems harsh, if not contradicted. The first sentence of the last paragraph is saying that "a worldwide public has become captivated" by fractal geometry". We certainly wouldn't assume that the worldwide public can grasp the theorems and proofs produced in fractal geometry.

  2. Too Strong: most Opposite, if anything4% picked this

    Most of the important recent breakthroughs in mathematical theory would not have been possible without the ability of computers

    We are always nervous to get as specific as saying more than 50% of anything. Do we know that at least 51% of important recent breakthroughs in math required the ability of computers to graphically represent complex shapes? Nope. We don't even know of one important breakthrough that required such computers.

  3. Too Strong: most4% picked this

    Fractal geometry holds the potential to replace traditional geometry in most of

    Again, this is way too strong/specific. The passage is very cautious in its optimism about fractal geometry. It hasn't proven itself to be especially useful; it's only proven a few theorems that couldn't be proven before. It's a huge leap to say that it has the potential to replace traditional geometry in more than 50% of engineering applications.

  4. Correct74% picked this

    A mathematical theory can be developed and find applications even before it establishes a precise definition

    Why this is right

    This is instantly the most lovable answer on the first pass because it has by far the weakest language: A theory can be X even before it Y's. We only need one example in which something is X before it's Y, in order to support this. Is fractal geometry a theory that's been developed and found applications? Sure, "many theorems about fractals have already been proven using the notions of pre-fractal math" and "fractal geometers have proven a handful of theorems that could not have been proven with pre-fractal math". Has fractal geometry not yet established a precise definition of its subject matter? Sure. All the field has done so far is make cool computer generated images. They think that it might be useful for describing complex natural and mathematical forms, but since this is still just speculative, we can say that we don't precisely know what fractals will be useful for yet.

    Skill tested: Inference · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

  5. Too Strong: only Contradicted, if anything15% picked this

    Only a mathematical theory that supports a system of theorems and proofs will gain enthusiastic support among a

    We know that there are already lots of mathematicians who are excited about fractal geometry, despite the fact that the theory isn't yet a precise language supporting a system of theorems and proofs. But according to this answer, the only way for a theory to gain enthusiastic support is to have a system of theorems and proofs.

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