Real GMAT Question_Median

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Real GMAT Question_Median

by farooq » Fri Jan 08, 2010 9:38 am
Q20: Tom, Jane, and Sue each purchased a new house. The average (arithmetic mean) price of
the three houses was $120,000. What was the median price of the three houses?

(1) The price of Tom's house was $110,000.
(2) The price of Jane's house was $120,000.

A. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.
B. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.
C. BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is
sufficient.
D. EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.
E. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

Can anyone explain me the correct answer. I marked C, but later I came to know that statement B alone is sufficient.

OA: B

What is the median number of employees assigned per project for the projects at
Company Z?

(1) 25 percent of the projects at Company Z have 4 or more employees assigned to each project.
(2) 35 percent of the projects at Company Z have 2 or fewer employees assigned to each project.

A. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.
B. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.
C. BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is
sufficient.
D. EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.
E. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

OA:C
Regards,
Farooq Farooqui.
London. UK

It is your Attitude, not your Aptitude, that determines your Altitude.
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

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by papgust » Fri Jan 08, 2010 7:14 pm
#1 T+J+S/3 = 120,000
Median price?

1. Tom's house is 110,000

110,000 < Mean price. We are still not sure of Median price because we don't know the other 2 prices. Insufficient.

2. Jane's house is 120,000

120,000 = Mean price. Either all houses are 120,000 or the other 2 houses are distant from 120,000 [If both houses are > than 120,000 OR both houses are < than 120,000 then Mean cannot be 120,000. So, one house would be less than 120,000 and the other house would be > than 120,000]
Sufficient.

Hence, B

#2 Median no. of employees?

1. 25% of projects have >= 4 employees.

This statement represents the upper section. Remaining 75% represents the middle-lower section. We cannot determine the median. Insufficient.

2. 35% of projects have <= 2 employees.

This statement represents the lower section. Remaining 65% represents the upper-middle section. We cannot determine the median. Insufficient.

Combined,
You have the middle remaining section as 40%. No. of employees can only be 3 [Number of people can only be positive integers]. Median number of employees per project is 3
Sufficient.