Let S be a finite set of consecutive multiples of 7

This topic has expert replies
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Sat May 10, 2014 3:23 am
canbtg wrote:Let S be a finite set of consecutive multiples of 7. How many terms are there in S?

(1) The sum of the terms in set S is 105.
(2) The standard deviation of set S is equal to 3.5
Statement 1: The sum of the terms in Set S is 105
For any EVENLY SPACED SET, the number of terms = sum/median.

Case 1: median = 35.
Number of terms = sum/median = 105/35 = 3.
Since the median of the 3 consecutive multiples of 7 is 35, we get:
Set S = {28, 35, 42}, with the result that the sum = 28+35+42 = 105.

Case 2: median = 21
Number of terms = sum/median = 105/21 = 5.
Since the median of the 5 consecutive multiples of 7 is 21, we get:
Set S = {7, 14, 21, 28, 35}, with the result that the sum = 7+14+21+28+35 = 105.

Since there are 3 terms in Case 1 but 5 terms in Case 2, INSUFFICIENT.

Statement 2: The standard deviation of set S is equal to 3.5
For any EVENLY SPACED SET, average = median.
Let m = the average and median of Set S.
Since Set S is composed of consecutive multiples of 7, Set S is composed of values drawn from the following:
...m-21, m-14, m-7, m, m+7, m+14, m+21...

Standard deviation is determined by DISTANCES FROM THE MEAN.
If Set S has 3 terms {m-7, m, m+7}, the combination of distances will be different than if Set S has 5 terms {m-14, m-7, m, m+7, m+14}.
As a result, each case will yield a DIFFERENT STANDARD DEVIATION.
Implication:
Only ONE combinations of distances will yield a standard deviation of 3.5.
Thus, the number of terms required to yield the right combination of distances can be determined.
SUFFICIENT.

The correct answer is B.
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