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 →

Averages – Descriptive Statistics problem solving

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:02 pm
by nafishasan » Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:14 am
If the average of 5 positive integers is 40 and the difference between the largest and the smallest of these 5 numbers is 10, what is the maximum value possible for the largest of these 5 integers?
A. 50
B. 52
C. 49
D. 48
E. 44
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: 3835
Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:00 pmFollowed by: 523 members
Location: Milpitas, CA
Thanked: 1854 times
GMAT Score:770

by Anurag@Gurome » Sat Feb 04, 2012 4:13 am
nafishasan wrote:If the average of 5 positive integers is 40 and the difference between the largest and the smallest of these 5 numbers is 10, what is the maximum value possible for the largest of these 5 integers?
A. 50
B. 52
C. 49
D. 48
E. 44
The average of 5 positive integers = 40 implies that the sum of 5 positive integers = 40 * 5 = 200
Let the smallest integer = s and the largest integer = l , then l - s = 10 or l = s + 10
We have to maximize s + 10, and for s + 10 to be maximum, all other terms should be minimum, and the smallest integer is s. So other terms should be equal to s.
Hence, s + s + s + s + (s + 10) = 200
5s = 190
s = 38
s + 10 = 48

The correct answer is D.
Anurag Mairal, Ph.D., MBA
GMAT Expert, Admissions and Career Guidance
Gurome, Inc.
1-800-566-4043 (USA)

Join Our Facebook Groups
GMAT with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/272466352793633/
Admissions with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/461459690536574/
Career Advising with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/360435787349781/
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pmFollowed by: 1906 members
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Sat Feb 04, 2012 4:54 am
nafishasan wrote:If the average of 5 positive integers is 40 and the difference between the largest and the smallest of these 5 numbers is 10, what is the maximum value possible for the largest of these 5 integers?
A. 52
B. 50
C. 49
D. 48
E. 44
Sum = number*average = 5*40 = 200.

We plug in the answers, which represent the maximum possible value of the largest integer.
To MAXIMIZE the largest integer, we must MINIMIZE the other 4 integers.
Thus, the other 4 integers must ALL be equal to the smallest integer.
Thus, when the correct answer choice is subtracted from 200, the result must be a multiple of 4, so that each of the other 4 values becomes an integer.

Eliminate B (200-50=150, which is not a multiple of 4) and C (100-49=151, which is not a multiple of 4).

Answer choice A: 52
Each of the other 4 integers = (200-52)/4 = 37.
Largest - smallest = 52-37 = 15.
The difference is not 10.
Eliminate A.

Answer choice D: 48
Each of the other 4 integers = (200-48)/4 = 38.
Largest - smallest = 48-38 = 10.
Success!

The correct answer is D.
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
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 8136
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:56 amFollowed by: 29 members
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 43 times

by Scott@TargetTestPrep » Sun Jun 17, 2018 7:02 pm
nafishasan wrote:If the average of 5 positive integers is 40 and the difference between the largest and the smallest of these 5 numbers is 10, what is the maximum value possible for the largest of these 5 integers?
A. 50
B. 52
C. 49
D. 48
E. 44
We are given that we have a sum of 40 x 5 = 200 and a range of 10.

Let's strategically check our answer choices:

If the largest integer is 50, then the 4 other numbers could be 40. However, 50 + 40 x 4 = 210, which is greater than 200. Thus, we see 50 (and also 52) cannot be correct.

Let's check 49:

49 + 4 x 39 = 49 + 156 = 205, which is also greater than 200.

Let's check 48:

48 + 38 x 4 = 48 + 152 = 200, so 48 is the largest number in the set.
Alternate Solution:

Let us denote the greatest element in this set by M and the smallest element in this set by m.

To maximize the greatest integer in the set, we should keep the remaining integers as small as possible. For that purpose, let's assume all the elements in the set besides M are equal to m. Then, according to the information given in the question, we have

(4m + M)/5 = 40

4m + M = 200

and

M - m = 10

Let's multiply the last equation by -1 and add to the preceding equation:

5m = 190

m = 38

Substituting m = 38 in M - m = 10, we see that the greatest value of M is 48.

Answer: D

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder and CEO
[email protected]

Image

See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews

ImageImage
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1