Hello,
For the following:
What is the median of positive integers x, y, and z if their average is 120.
(1) x = 100
(2) y = 120
OA: B
1) x = 100. In-suff.
2) y = 100. Now what if the order of the integers are y, x and z. In-this case 2 is in-sufficient.
I am thinking that the question is implicitly saying that x, y and z are in ascending/descending order. Is it correct to make such an assumption if nothing to the contrary is stated in the question?
Thanks,
Sri
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Median of positive integers
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gmattesttaker2
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I don't think that it matters whether x,y,z are in increasing order. Once you're given that X=100, all you have to show is whether the second largest number can vary while maintaining the overall avg. of 120. Whether that 2nd largest number is set equal to Y or to Z (or even X) doesn't matter.gmattesttaker2 wrote:Hello,
For the following:
What is the median of positive integers x, y, and z if their average is 120.
(1) x = 100
(2) y = 120
OA: B
1) x = 100. In-suff.
2) y = 100. Now what if the order of the integers are y, x and z. In-this case 2 is in-sufficient.
I am thinking that the question is implicitly saying that x, y and z are in ascending/descending order. Is it correct to make such an assumption if nothing to the contrary is stated in the question?
Thanks,
Sri
The same applies to the second statement. Knowing that Y=120, there are only two possibilities: (1) all three numbers are the same (120), and (2) either X is lower than 120 or Z is lower than 120, with the remaining variable > 120.
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Hi Sri,
This question is perfect for TESTing Values:
The question tells us that X, Y and Z are positive integers and the average is 120. We're asked what the median is.
Since the average of the 3 numbers is 120, we know that Sum/3 = 120, so X+Y+Z = 360.
Fact 1: X = 100
This tells us that Y+Z = 260
We could have...
Y = 1, Z = 259 so the median would be 100
Y = 120, Z = 140 so the median would be 120
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT
Fact 2: Y = 120
This tells us that Y+Z = 240
We could have....
Y = 1, Z = 239 so the median would be 120
Y = 100, Z = 140 so the median would be 120
Y = 120, Z = 120 so the median would be 120
In every scenario, we end up with a median of 120
Fact 2 is SUFFICIENT
Final Answer:B
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
This question is perfect for TESTing Values:
The question tells us that X, Y and Z are positive integers and the average is 120. We're asked what the median is.
Since the average of the 3 numbers is 120, we know that Sum/3 = 120, so X+Y+Z = 360.
Fact 1: X = 100
This tells us that Y+Z = 260
We could have...
Y = 1, Z = 259 so the median would be 100
Y = 120, Z = 140 so the median would be 120
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT
Fact 2: Y = 120
This tells us that Y+Z = 240
We could have....
Y = 1, Z = 239 so the median would be 120
Y = 100, Z = 140 so the median would be 120
Y = 120, Z = 120 so the median would be 120
In every scenario, we end up with a median of 120
Fact 2 is SUFFICIENT
Final Answer:B
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
