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median

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Source: — Problem Solving |
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by shankar.ashwin » Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:17 pm
First sort the Nos in ascending order.

1
2
3
9
11
15.

Now if x is added, it would made the total number of terms odd and hence x should be the median (middle value). For x to be median it should be placed inbetween 3 and 9 and the only value from the option which satisfies this is 5
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by rohanberi » Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:26 pm
shankar.ashwin wrote:First sort the Nos in ascending order.

1
2
3
9
11
15.

Now if x is added, it would made the total number of terms odd and hence x should be the median (middle value). For x to be median it should be placed inbetween 3 and 9 and the only value from the option which satisfies this is 5
Number can be 3<= x <=9.
So, we have two choices as correct, 3 and 5.

I am not able to make out how come the answer is 5, and not 3 ?
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by shankar.ashwin » Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:28 pm
Question mentions distinct numbers, so 3 would not be possible
rohanberi wrote:
shankar.ashwin wrote:First sort the Nos in ascending order.

1
2
3
9
11
15.

Now if x is added, it would made the total number of terms odd and hence x should be the median (middle value). For x to be median it should be placed inbetween 3 and 9 and the only value from the option which satisfies this is 5
Number can be 3<= x <=9.
So, we have two choices as correct, 3 and 5.

I am not able to make out how come the answer is 5, and not 3 ?
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by sl750 » Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:29 pm
@rohanberi
The question says, distinct positive integers. So, 3 cannot be the median
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by rohanberi » Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:35 pm
Got it guys.
I missed the catch.
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by smagish » Sun Aug 05, 2012 6:56 am
guys what if the value of x is greater than 9...???
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by eagleeye » Sun Aug 05, 2012 7:01 am
smagish wrote:guys what if the value of x is greater than 9...???
If x>9, lets say x= 10, the median will be 9. But its not one of the options. If there was 9 instead of 5 in the options, 9 would be correct. :)
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by smagish » Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:45 am
eagleeye wrote:
smagish wrote:guys what if the value of x is greater than 9...???
If x>9, lets say x= 10, the median will be 9. But its not one of the options. If there was 9 instead of 5 in the options, 9 would be correct. :)

since there is a discrepancy the answer should be opt E i.e It cannot be determined from the given information.

Correct me if am wrong
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by Kobe_Kassidy » Mon Aug 06, 2012 5:22 pm
smagish wrote:
eagleeye wrote:
smagish wrote:guys what if the value of x is greater than 9...???
If x>9, lets say x= 10, the median will be 9. But its not one of the options. If there was 9 instead of 5 in the options, 9 would be correct. :)

since there is a discrepancy the answer should be opt E i.e It cannot be determined from the given information.

Correct me if am wrong
I look at it this way:

The "given information" supports 5 as a possible median. The question asks for a number that "could" be the median, not one that "must" be the median. If you can identify a possible median in A-D based on the information given, answer E would then be incorrect.
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