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by tanvis1120 » Sat Sep 06, 2014 12:40 pm
A set of numbers contains 7 integers and has an average (arithmetic mean) value as well as a median value of 23. If the largest value is equal to 15 more than 4 times the smallest number, what is the largest possible range for the numbers in the set?

33
35
38
48
75
OA is 48

Is it a mistake to assume evenly spaced set of numbers for the sake of convenient calculation?
I did so and got the right answer. Here is my reasoning:
For and evenly spaced set of n numbers, the (T1+Tn)/2 = Mean, thus it will be equal to Median.
T1: 1st term of the set
Tn: nth term of the set
n is odd.

Therefore, (T1+Tn)/2 = 23 .... (i)
Now, let me plug in the ranges provided in the answer choices.
Tn = T1+ 75
From equation i,
T1+T1+75 = 23x2 = 46
T1 = 29/2, which is not possible as the set in question is a set of integers.

Similarly, if I plug in 48, the final equation comes out to be 2T1 = -2, T1 = -1, which is possible, -1 being an integer. The target question does not mention that the integers should be positive.
Also, 48 is the largest among the remaining options. So, my answer is 48.

Experts, I don't understand if this approach is correct.
The cross verification does not work.
"Largest value is equal to 15 more than 4 times the smallest number"
T1 = -1
T7 = -1+48 = 47
T7 = 4(-1) + 15 = 11 (It does not satisfy the target question) :(

Thanks
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Source: — Problem Solving |

by [email protected] » Sat Sep 06, 2014 2:12 pm
Hi tanvis1120,

For these types of questions, you have some options when it comes to approaching the "math" behind the question. As long as you're not breaking any of the rules that the prompt describes, you can use whatever examples you want (to help you prove what the correct answer is). You have to be careful about your assumptions though; here, you got a bit lucky, because the ideas behind this prompt involve numbers that are NOT necessarily sequential.

We're asked for the largest possible range of this group of 7 numbers, which means that we have to make the largest value as large as possible and make the smallest value as small as possible (and by extension, make everything as small as possible too).

First, let's deal with the median, which equals 23 (when the numbers are ordered, the "middle number" is 23):

_ _ _ 23 _ _ _

This means that the 3 numbers to the "left" of the 23 can be 23 or less and the the 3 numbers to the "right" of the 23 can be 23 or more.

We also know that the average is 23, which means that the sum of the 7 numbers = sum/7 = 23.......sum = 161

We have one more piece of info to implement: the largest number is 15 more than 4 times the smallest number:

X = smallest number
4X + 15 = largest number

X _ _ 23 _ _ (4X+15)

To make the largest number as large as possible, we have to make EVERYTHING ELSE as small as possible. Here's how to do it:

X X X 23 23 23 (4X+15)

Summing all of these values gives us:

7X + 84 = 161
7X = 77
X = 11

So, the smallest number = 11 and the largest number = 4(11)+15 = 59

The range = 59 - 11 = 48

Final Answer: D

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
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by tanvis1120 » Sat Sep 06, 2014 4:08 pm
Awesome!
Thanks Rich !
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