An instructor gives 3 initial exams and a final exam for a certain course. The average of the 3 initial exams was weighted 3.5 and the final exams is weighted 2/5. A student received initial exam grades of 72,73, and 80, and a final grade of x. If the students weighted average for the course was 79, what is the value of x?
a. 90
b. 87
c. 85
d. 84
e. 81
Problem Solving- Weighted Average
This topic has expert replies
-
- Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:38 pm
- Location: Phoenix
- Thanked: 2 times
-
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 392
- Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 12:52 pm
- Location: New Jersey
- Thanked: 76 times
Average of 72,73, and 80= 145+80/(3)= 225/3= 75.
75*3/5+2/5(x)= 79
45+2/5(x)=79
34*5/2=x
x=17*5= 85
C
75*3/5+2/5(x)= 79
45+2/5(x)=79
34*5/2=x
x=17*5= 85
C
-
- Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:28 am
- Thanked: 5 times
Thanks trueplayer,
But if you could please explain why you multiplied 75 by 3/5?
Regards,
Niharika.
But if you could please explain why you multiplied 75 by 3/5?
Regards,
Niharika.
- GMATGuruNY
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 15539
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
- Location: New York, NY
- Thanked: 13060 times
- Followed by:1906 members
- GMAT Score:790
The fraction in red above reflects the intent of the problem.AndreaV424 wrote:An instructor gives 3 initial exams and a final exam for a certain course. The average of the 3 initial exams was weighted 3/5 and the final exams is weighted 2/5. A student received initial exam grades of 72,73, and 80, and a final grade of x. If the students weighted average for the course was 79, what is the value of x?
a. 90
b. 87
c. 85
d. 84
e. 81
Since the final grade of x must account for 2/5 of the course -- in other words, for 2 of every 5 grades -- let the 5 grades be 72, 73, 80, x, x.
Since the average of the 5 grades is 79, we get:
Sum of the 5 grades = (number)(average) = 5*79 = 395.
Thus:
72+73+80+x+x = 395
2x = 170
x = 85.
The correct answer is C.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.
As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.
As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3