A certain meter records voltage between 0 volts and 10 volts, inclusive. If the average (arithmetic mean) value of 3 recordings on the meter was 8 volts, what was the smallest possible recording, in volts?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5
E) 6
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singhmaharaj
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Sum of values = (# of values)(mean)singhmaharaj wrote:A certain meter records voltage between 0 volts and 10 volts, inclusive. If the average (arithmetic mean) value of 3 recordings on the meter was 8 volts, what was the smallest possible recording, in volts?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5
E) 6
So, sum of the 3 readings = (3)(8) = 24
To MINIMIZE one of the readings, we must MAXIMIZE the other two readings.
The maximum reading is 10, so let two of the readings equal 10.
Since the sum of all 3 readings must be 24, the last remaining reading must equal 4
Answer: C
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Brent@GMATPrepNow
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For some reason, my response got posted twice. I erased the 2nd one.
Cheers,
Brent
Cheers,
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Scott@TargetTestPrep
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To make one number as small as possible, the other two numbers must be as large as possible. Thus, we will let the two greatest voltage readings be 10, and he lowest reading be n and create the equation for the average of the 3 readings:singhmaharaj wrote:A certain meter records voltage between 0 volts and 10 volts, inclusive. If the average (arithmetic mean) value of 3 recordings on the meter was 8 volts, what was the smallest possible recording, in volts?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5
E) 6
(n + 10 + 10)/3 = 8
n + 20 = 24
n = 4
Answer: C
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