Hi Mallika,
This question has a minor bit of "interpretative bias" in it. When the question states "within 6 pages", I'm going to assume that it really means "up to 6 pages" and not "fewer than 6 pages"
That having been said, the data gives us the number of students and the "ranges" of pages in each of their theses:
0-9 pages ==> 1 student
10-19 pgs ==> 4 students
20-29 pgs ==> 6 students
30-39 pgs ==> 7 students
40-49 pgs ==> 2 students
We have a total of 20 students, so the median number of pages will be based on the "highest 2" numbers in the 20-29 range, although we do have to consider the possibility of duplicate numbers. To figure out the "least" and "greatest" number of students within 6 pages of the median, we will have to TEST VALUES. Here's how to do it:
Since we're dealing with ranges of pages, we can send all of the students within a particular range to either extreme end of that range.
To figure out the LEAST number within 6 pages of the median....
In the 20-29 page range....
If we have 20, 20, 20, 20, 29, 29
then the median = 29
AND
in the 30-39 page range...
if we have ALL 39s
Then there are only 2 seniors with a page count within 6 pages of the median: the two with 29 pages each.
To figure out the GREATEST number within 6 pages of the median....
In the 20-29 page range...
if we have ALL 25s: 25, 25, 25, 25, 25, 25
then the median = 25
AND
in the 10-19 page range....
if we have ALL 19s: 19, 19, 19, 19
AND
in the 30-39 page range...
if we have ALL 30S: 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30
Then there are 6 + 4 + 7 = 17 seniors that have a page count within 6 pages of the median
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
looks like there were multiple uploads!
