BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Largest possible integer

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 218
Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:05 pm
Thanked: 26 times
Followed by:4 members

Largest possible integer

by chieftang » Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:45 am
A set of five different positive integers has a median of 18 and a mean of 15. What is the largest possible integer in the set?

(A) 19
(B) 24
(C) 32
(D) 35
(E) 40

Source: AMC question bank

I thought it was a nifty little question. It was more than 2 minutes before the solution dawned on me. Enjoy.
Top
Source: — Problem Solving |
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 425
Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2010 9:00 am
Thanked: 56 times
Followed by:7 members
GMAT Score:690

by LalaB » Tue Jan 03, 2012 11:08 am
to maximize one value, we need to minimize the rest values

since we are said, that the set consists of DIFFERENT POSITIVE integers, then we have the following set-

1 2 18 19 x

median=18
mean=15=(1+2+18+19+x)/5
so x=35 (max integer)
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1665
Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 7:04 pm
Thanked: 165 times
Followed by:70 members

by karthikpandian19 » Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:22 pm
Answer is D - 35

Since, it is 5 numbers and median is 18

Left: The 2 nos on the left is to be very less and positive integers so take 1 & 2

Right: The 2 nos on the right - One of them we need to find it, so other should be minimum which is 19 (next to 18)

So now: (1+2+18+19+n)/5 = 15

Solving will get n = 35
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1