M7MBA wrote:What is the value of x?
(1) The median of set (x, 1, -1, 3, -x) is 0
(2) The median of set (x, 1, -1, 3, -x) is x/2
The OA is the option A.
How can I use the statement (1) to get an answer? Experts, please help me.
(1) The median of set (x, 1, -1, 3, -x) is 0.
Since there are five elements (an odd number of elements), the median must be present in the set. We see that no value as 0 is there in the set, thus, x must be equal to 0. Sufficient.
(2) The median of set (x, 1, -1, 3, -x) is x/2.
Case 1: Say the set arranged in an ascending order is given by: (-x, -1, 1, x, 3), where 1 ≤ x ≤ 3. Here median = 1 = x/2 => x = 2.
Case 2: Say the set arranged in an ascending order is given by: (-1, -x, x, 1, 3) Here median = x = x/2 => x = 0. No unique value. Insufficient.
The correct answer:
A
Hope this helps!
-Jay
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