Why are industries fragmented? what are the pri- mary ways in which companies can turn a frag- mented industry into a consolidated industry?

Fragmented industries have a large number of small and medium sized companies. Certain industries are fragmented because there are low barriers to entry like low costs, that makes it easier for more players to join the market. Another reason could be no benefits to economies of scale (aka not really cheaper to produce in bulk vs small amounts) so no one company gains a bulk of the market by producing and selling the most.

Companies can turn a fragmented industry into a more consolidated industry by buying up their competitors in mergers, or creating franchises and chains.

the correct answer is economics is a game without winners or losers.

unlike sports or games economic is a game without losers or winner rather it is a game where everyone wins. parties of business doing businesses exchange money with each other and hence exchange is done on the basis of goods. one party takes the goods and other sales it so there is winner on both sides. each party values more highly the good it gets than the good it gives up. both sides exchange only because both intend to increase their value. so there is no concept of lose or win.