Median

[yellowho]

Which of the 5 terms p, q, p + q, p - 1, and q + 1, represents the median of these 5 terms?

(1) p > q

(2) p - q < 1

Is there a way to do this without plugging?

[shashank.ism]

Which of the 5 terms p, q, p + q, p - 1, and q + 1, represents the median of these 5 terms?

(1) p > q

(2) p - q < 1

Is there a way to do this without plugging?

Median is a type of average, found by arranging the values in order and then selecting the one in the middle.
so lets start arranging and check

Statement 1 : p>q so offcourse p+q>p>q but we cant fix p-1 and q+1 as we dont know anything about p and q or relative relationship...
Not sufficient.

Statement 2: p-q>1 so p>q+1 and p-1 <q
so lets start checking the terms byt putting the values p-1 and q+1
q+1>p & q>p-1
also p-q<1 it may be negative.. so not sufficient..

combined q+1>p>q>p-1 but we dont know abt pand q are they +ve or -ve so we cant say abt p+q hence not sufficient..

The correct answer is E

[Anurag@Gurome]

(1) We don't know whether p and q are positive or negative. Accordingly the value of p + q will also change. So, definitely, the given information is NOT SUFFICIENT.

(2) p - q < 1; here p and q may be both positive or negative, that is again it depends on the signs of variables p and q. So, again this statement is NOT SUFFICIENT.

Combining (1) and (2), we still don't know whether p and q are positive or negative. Hence, NOT SUFFICIENT.

The correct answer is E.

[ankur.agrawal]

1. Let p-q=2 ( satisfies 1)

then the list will look like : q+2, q, 2(q+1), q+1, q+1-----> q, q+1,q+1, q+2, 2(q+1). Since two values will be same (q+1) we will not be able to say which one is median. NS

2. Let p-q= -1 ( satisfies 2)

Then the list will look like this in ascending Order: q-2, q-1, q, q, 2q. Again NS

Combining both will also not result in a definite answer. So E.

Which of the 5 terms p, q, p + q, p - 1, and q + 1, represents the median of these 5 terms?

(1) p > q

(2) p - q < 1

Is there a way to do this without plugging?