BTGModeratorVI wrote: ↑Sun Aug 02, 2020 6:57 am
The average (arithmetic mean) of the five numbers in a data set is 72. The average (arithmetic mean) of the first three numbers is 98. What is the average (arithmetic mean) of the last two numbers?
A. 31
B. 32
C. 33
D. 34
E. 35
Answer:
C
Source: Math Revolution
Let a, b, c, d and e be the five numbers in the set.
The average (arithmetic mean) of the five numbers in a data set is 72.
So, (a + b + c + d + e)/5 = 72
Multiply both sides of the equation by 5 to get:
a + b + c + d + e = 360
The average (arithmetic mean) of the first three numbers is 98.
So, (a + b + c)/3 = 98
Multiply both sides of the equation by 3 to get:
a + b + c = 294
What is the average (arithmetic mean) of the last two numbers?
In other words, what is the average of d and e?
Take
a + b + c + d + e = 360 and replace
a + b + c with
294
We get:
294 + d + e = 360
Subtract 294 from both sides to get: d + e = 66
So, the average of d and e = (d + e)/2
= 66/2
= 33
Answer: C
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
