LSAT 118 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q14

LR Question 14 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Theoretically, analog systems are superior to digital…

QUESTION TYPE: Most Strongly Supported

FACTS:

1. Analog systems can be more detailed than digital systems, in theory.
2. In practice they tend to have a higher error rate when the signal is reproduced. The errors grow and the signal is drowned out by noise.

ANALYSIS: All we can say is that digital systems tend to be better, when the signal has to be reproduced.

It’s important to know why and when analog systems have a high error rate. It is only when the signal is reproduced. Answer choice D is wrong because it is too broad. Analog systems may be superior in practice in some situations that don’t call for signal reproduction.

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1. We don’t know if this is true of many things or if it is only true of analog systems.
2. Analog representation can be impractical, but not because we don’t need detailed information. It is impractical because the error rate is high.
3. This isn’t necessarily true. Digital systems might still have errors as long as they have fewer errors than analog systems.
4. This is a bit too broad. We only know errors cripple analog systems when the signal is reproduced. In situations where the signal is not reproduced analog systems may be better. 
5. CORRECT. The main problem for analog systems is that errors are multiplied when the signal is reproduced. If the signal isn’t reproduced then analog systems may be better.