Range of integers ques

[mshameen]

List K consists of 12 consecutive integers. If -4 is the least integer in the list K, what is the range of the positive integers in list K?
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 11
E) 12

Whats the answer?

[Rahul@gurome]

Note that we have been asked the range for positive integers in the list.
Range is the difference between maximum and minimum value.
The integers in the list are -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
The minimum positive value is 1 and the maximum positive value is 7.
So the range of positive integers is 7 - 1= 6.
The correct answer is B.

[mshameen]

Thanks. I dont know why but to me it appeared that 0-7 so range should be 7. Anyway, thanks. 6 is what the right answer appears to be on the GMATPrep software.

[quaktar0004]

Why isn't "0" included in this range? I too thought the answer should be 7: 7-0=7. Please advise.

[Rahul@gurome]

Why isn't "0" included in this range? I too thought the answer should be 7: 7-0=7. Please advise.

The reason is that zero is considered neither positive or negative.
You have to take only the positive integers while calculating the range.

[Everest]

let's define the set = -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1 , 2 ,3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (12 integers)

Number of positive integers are = 1 , 2 ,3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (0 is neither positive not negative)


Range = max - min = 7 -1 = 6

IMO B

[aleph777]

I'm confused here... The range isn't inclusive? I counted 1 through 7, inclusive. But to find the range you simply take max - min?

Thanks!

[Rahul@gurome]

I'm confused here... The range isn't inclusive? I counted 1 through 7, inclusive. But to find the range you simply take max - min?

Thanks!

You don't have to take the number of elements between 1 and 7 inclusive.
You have to take the difference between maximum positive value which is 7 and minimum positive value which is 1.
This comes out to be 6.