The standard deviation is basically a measure of how far an element of a certain series is from the average of the series. In this case, average = 32 000, and standard deviation is 8 000.
Now, the salaries within 8 000 from 32 000 will be between (32 000 - 8 000) and (32 000 + 8 000) or between 24 000 and 40 000. The only salary to be in this interval will be 36 000.

Great again DanaJ !

DanaJ wrote:The standard deviation is basically a measure of how far an element of a certain series is from the average of the series. In this case, average = 32 000, and standard deviation is 8 000.
Now, the salaries within 8 000 from 32 000 will be between (32 000 - 8 000) and (32 000 + 8 000) or between 24 000 and 40 000. The only salary to be in this interval will be 36 000.

The question asks about a salary between 1 and 2 stds from the average, thus in the intervals 16K - 24K or 40K - 48K

17000 would then be the right answer

OA is B

17,000

Oops... You guys are right... I read: within one standard deviation from the average.
Since it's between 1 and 2 standard deviations, then you get the following:
1 standard deviation limit: between 24 000 and 40 000.
2 standard deviations limit: between 16 000 and 48 000.

The intervals between the two will be from 16 000 to 24 000 and from 40 000 to 48 000.