The answer is B.

If 50 cycles of sterilization = 3.4X the energy to manufacture, then approximately 15 cycles = 1X, meaning each cycle is 1/15 the energy it takes to manufacture. So B is mathematically impossible.

OR, in order for each cycle of sterilization to require more energy than manufacturing, 50 cycles MUST be more than 50X the energy needed to make the tools.

Yes, there is fucking simple 9th grade algebra on the LSAT! And that, my friends, is why I hate this test.

A could be true depending on the energy it takes to manufacture each set of instruments, which we don’t know.

B could be true, I suppose, unless there’s some law of physics I don’t know that implies that it takes more energy to make something than it does to sterilize something, which I doubt.

C could be true, although it’s irrelevant to the prompt.

D could be true, since we know the ratios of each sterilize-energy to produce-energy, but not the ratio between the produce-energies.

E could be true if the raw steel was cheaper than the energy used to create the final product, if that’s possible.

Perhaps this question is testing knowledge of some scientific law that I don’t know; but if it’s purely a logic problem and you’re only supposed to use the information given, then I don’t think there’s enough given to eliminate any of those.