CR: Electronic computer chips made of tiny silicon wafers

[cesar.rodriguez.blanco]

I do not know how to solve this CR. Please help:
Electronic computer chips made of tiny silicon wafers now regularly contain millions of electronic switches. Unfortunately, electronic switches that are this small cannot withstand intense radiation. Micro-Mechanics plans to produce a chip that, because it uses only microscopic mechanical switches, will be invulnerable to radiation damage. The switches will, however, be slower than electronic switches and the chip will contain only 12,000 switches.

For there to be a market for Micro-Mechanics`s chip as a result of the apparent
advantage described above, each of the following would have to be true EXCEPT:

A. There will be applications in which the speed attainable by an electronic switch is not essential.
B. Switches used on electronic chips that contain only 12,000 switches are more vulnerable to radiation damage than the switches on Micro-Mechanics`s chip will be.
C. There will be applications for computer chips in environments where the chips may have to survive intense radiation.
D. Some devices in which computer chips will be used will have other components that will be able to function during or after exposure to radiation.
E. Manufacturers are able to protect electronic computer chips against exposure to intense radiation, where this protection is necessary.

[sunny.jain]

parapharsing:
3 key difference between electronic and micro-mechanics chips:
1) speed of EC > Speed of MMC.
2) number of Switches in EC > same in MMC
3) EC can not withstand against intense radiation where as MMC can.

Obviouslly E is going against MMC usage so i think E should be the answer.

[NIKESH_PAHUJA]

Yes E it is.

If Manufacturers of electronic computer chips are able to protect them against exposure to intense radiation,then whats the point of making a new chip ? Old chips can be used.

[RonPurewal]

I do not know how to solve this CR. Please help:
Electronic computer chips made of tiny silicon wafers now regularly contain millions of electronic switches. Unfortunately, electronic switches that are this small cannot withstand intense radiation. Micro-Mechanics plans to produce a chip that, because it uses only microscopic mechanical switches, will be invulnerable to radiation damage. The switches will, however, be slower than electronic switches and the chip will contain only 12,000 switches.

For there to be a market for Micro-Mechanics`s chip as a result of the apparent
advantage described above, each of the following would have to be true EXCEPT:

A. There will be applications in which the speed attainable by an electronic switch is not essential.
B. Switches used on electronic chips that contain only 12,000 switches are more vulnerable to radiation damage than the switches on Micro-Mechanics`s chip will be.
C. There will be applications for computer chips in environments where the chips may have to survive intense radiation.
D. Some devices in which computer chips will be used will have other components that will be able to function during or after exposure to radiation.
E. Manufacturers are able to protect electronic computer chips against exposure to intense radiation, where this protection is necessary.

they're being somewhat nice to you here.

usually, when you have an "except" problem like this one, you'll have 4 answers that work, and 1 that is irrelevant (usually for some subtle reason).

here, though, you have 4 answers that work, and 1 that accomplishes exactly the opposite of what you're supposed to accomplish.

--

you're looking for the one choice that is NOT IN FAVOR OF THE NEW CHIPS. this would be (e).
if (e) is true, then the primary DISADVANTAGE of the OTHER chips - the ones that are faster and have more switches - is REMOVED. this is extremely detrimental to the new chips.

[saintjingjing]

hi ron,
about D
D. Some devices in which computer chips will be used will have other components that will be able to function during or after exposure to radiation.

in fact, D says that some devices using computer chips will be able to function after exposure to radiaion( though D just says other components)
.So, This makes a strong case for a market to exist for mechanical switches made by Micro-Mechanics

do you agree?

[RonPurewal]

hi ron,
about D
D. Some devices in which computer chips will be used will have other components that will be able to function during or after exposure to radiation.

in fact, D says that some devices using computer chips will be able to function after exposure to radiaion( though D just says other components)
.So, This makes a strong case for a market to exist for mechanical switches made by Micro-Mechanics

do you agree?

you don't seem to have noticed the word "except" in the prompt question.
because of that word, this reasoning is what makes (d) one of the wrong answers.

[saintjingjing]

en, yes ron, I see there is "expect" but I want to identify my thinking about why I can not choose D, so I just write those in my last post................

[RonPurewal]

in your last post, you wrote this:

This makes a strong case for a market to exist for mechanical switches made by Micro-Mechanics

in other words -- yes, you're right, it makes the case that this market *will* exist.

now, look at the question prompt:
For there to be a market for Micro-Mechanics's chip as a result of the apparent advantage described above, each of the following would have to be true EXCEPT:

in other words, you are looking for something that is *not* going to contribute to the existence of the market. so answer choice (d) is wrong.

[Peiyilin09]

Hmm, I am still a bit confused about why D is not correct. It seem that:
if, Some devices in which computer chips will be used will have other components that will be able to function during or after exposure to radiation, then we can still use these computer chips, and therefore the market for the Mechanic chips will be smaller. This is going against the question. What is the reasoning that this is incorrect?

Thanks!

[messi10]

Peiyilin09, I think the most logical interpretation of choice D is that you will still have to replace the damaged computer chip in order to make use of rest of the components. So there is a market for chips. For example, if you had a watch that had a faulty component, you wouldnt strip the watch down to individual components and try and use them for other things. You would probably want to replace the damaged part and get the watch working again

[jlucero]

Hmm, I am still a bit confused about why D is not correct. It seem that:
if, Some devices in which computer chips will be used will have other components that will be able to function during or after exposure to radiation, then we can still use these computer chips, and therefore the market for the Mechanic chips will be smaller. This is going against the question. What is the reasoning that this is incorrect?

Thanks!

These computer chips have a very niche market- they are really only helpful in places where there is exposure to radiation, where other computer chips have failed. In order for these chips to be marketable, there have to be products that work in these environments. A computer chip isn't a product by itself- it's a component of a larger product. The rest of that larger product has to also survive radiation, otherwise there isn't a marketable product able to be used in areas with large amounts of radiation.

[Peiyilin09]

Thanks! That clears it up.

[jlucero]

Glad to help!

[vishalc581]

Hi,

I get that OA is E because the condition for which mechanical chips was introduced will be removed if manufacturer is able to protect chips in any other way and hence electronic chips can be used and there will be no need of mechanical chips



But what about option D?

It says devices have other components apart from chips that will be able to work even after the radiation but we are not concerned about other parts . we are concerned only for mechanical chips and electronic chip.



So it also seems out of scope and hence could be answer.



Can you please help me?

[RonPurewal]

It says devices have other components apart from chips that will be able to work even after the radiation but we are not concerned about other parts . we are concerned only for mechanical chips and electronic chip.

we most certainly ARE concerned about 'other parts'. a device doesn't work unless ALL of its parts work!