BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

If the average (arithmetic mean) of six consecutive

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pmFollowed by: 1268 members
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
GMAT Score:770
by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:10 am
If the average (arithmetic mean) of six consecutive odd integers is 4q + 2, what is the difference between the greatest and least of the six integers?

A. 6q + 4
B. 10q
C. 6q/(q - 6)
D. 6
E. 10

Source: GMAT Prep Now
Difficulty level: 500-600

Answer: E
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Problem Solving |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pmFollowed by: 1268 members
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Wed Feb 15, 2017 5:28 pm
Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote:If the average (arithmetic mean) of six consecutive odd integers is 4q + 2, what is the difference between the greatest and least of the six integers?

A. 6q + 4
B. 10q
C. 6q/(q - 6)
D. 6
E. 10
The question is a bit of a trick question, since we don't really need to know the part about the average equaling 4q+2.

The range of ANY 6 odd integers will ALWAYS be 10, so the correct answer is E


That said, we can also use the information about q to solve the question.

We'll use the input-output approach.

So, let's see what happens when we analyze a random set of 6 consecutive odd integers.
How about {9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19}
Here, the mean = 14
From the given information, this means that 4q + 2 = 14
Solve to get q = 3
Now, for this set of values, the difference between the greatest and least of the six integers = 19 - 9 = 10

In other words, when we INPUT q = 3, then the OUTPUT (the answer to the given question) is 10

Now, we'll plug q = 3 into the 5 answer choices and see which one yields an OUTPUT of 10
A. 6(3) + 4 = 22. We need 10, so eliminate
B. 10(3) = 30. We need 10, so eliminate
C. 6(3)/(3 - 6) = -6. We need 10, so eliminate
D. 6. We need 10, so eliminate
E. 10. PERFECT MATCH

Answer: E
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2630
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:32 pmFollowed by: 119 members
Location: East Bay all the way
Thanked: 625 times
GMAT Score:780

by Matt@VeritasPrep » Wed Feb 15, 2017 5:38 pm
Seems like a good candidate for plugging in too.

Take the set {1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11}, then the set {5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15}. In each case the range is 10, so you're ... set! (I really need to retire this pun.)
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pmFollowed by: 1268 members
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Wed Feb 15, 2017 5:51 pm
Matt@VeritasPrep wrote: Take the set {1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11}, then the set {5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15}. In each case the range is 10, so you're ... set! (I really need to retire this pun.)
I don't think you should retire that pun; it has many humorous elements ......:-)
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2630
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:32 pmFollowed by: 119 members
Location: East Bay all the way
Thanked: 625 times
GMAT Score:780

by Matt@VeritasPrep » Wed Feb 15, 2017 6:46 pm
Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote:
Matt@VeritasPrep wrote: Take the set {1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11}, then the set {5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15}. In each case the range is 10, so you're ... set! (I really need to retire this pun.)
I don't think you should retire that pun; it has many humorous elements ......:-)
I know I set you up for that one, but you just couldn't contain yourself :p
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1