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 →

Confusing question

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 207
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2007 6:16 pm
Location: Mumbai
Thanked: 11 times
by jimmiejaz » Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:17 pm
The average weight of 15 items is 8 kg. The least average weight of 5 items of these 15 is 5 kg. If no item weighs less than 5 kg, what is the maximum number of items that can have the same weight?

3
5
6
10
14

OA TBA
What if i have not yet beat the beast, I know i will beat it!!!!!!!!
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Problem Solving |
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3225
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:40 pmFollowed by: 614 members
Location: Toronto
Thanked: 1710 times
GMAT Score:800

Re: Confusing question

by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:04 pm
jimmiejaz wrote:The average weight of 15 items is 8 kg. The least average weight of 5 items of these 15 is 5 kg. If no item weighs less than 5 kg, what is the maximum number of items that can have the same weight?

3
5
6
10
14
We know that the 5 lightest items average 5kg and none of them weigh less than 5kg. In other words, the 5 lightest items are 5kg each.

We want to know the maximum possible number of items that could weigh the same amount.

Well, we know that at least 5 of the items are 5kg each. Could there be more?

Sure! In fact, we could have 14 items at 5kg each and 1 super-heavy item to make them average 8kg. Choose (E).

Many people would assume that you can't have more items at 5kg and then make the remaining 10 items over 8kg and equal, thereby choosing (D) instead.
Image

Stuart Kovinsky | Kaplan GMAT Faculty | Toronto

Kaplan Exclusive: The Official Test Day Experience | Ready to Take a Free Practice Test? | Kaplan/Beat the GMAT Member Discount
BTG100 for $100 off a full course
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 207
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2007 6:16 pm
Location: Mumbai
Thanked: 11 times

by jimmiejaz » Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:06 pm
Thanks, for the explanation Stuart.

yes i marked D. :oops:
What if i have not yet beat the beast, I know i will beat it!!!!!!!!
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 2467
Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:14 pmFollowed by: 11 members
Thanked: 331 times

by cramya » Wed Dec 03, 2008 4:08 pm
Nice explanation Stuart!

Looks more like a conceptual question (good one).

I subtracted 25 from 120 to get to 95.

Initially went for 10 items 9.5 each but looked at 14 and decided to use 9*5 + 2 items 25 kg each(since we are asked to maximize the number).The least average weight of 5 items of these 15 means any 5 taken from 15 could have the least avergae weight of 5 with none individually less than 5 kg's each.

Since it was more conceptual than algebric I did use the answer choices to get to the correct answer!

E)
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 2134
Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2008 11:26 pmFollowed by: 25 members
Thanked: 237 times
GMAT Score:730

Re: Confusing question

by logitech » Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:59 pm
jimmiejaz wrote:The average weight of 15 items is 8 kg. The least average weight of 5 items of these 15 is 5 kg. If no item weighs less than 5 kg, what is the maximum number of items that can have the same weight?

3
5
6
10
14

OA TBA
As pointed out by Stuart, we can have as many as 5 kgs we want and a heavy one(1)

15-1= 14 B-)
LGTCH
---------------------
"DON'T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR DREAM!"
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1