What is the median of the nine consecutive even integers in a certain list?

This topic has expert replies
Legendary Member
Posts: 1223
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2020 2:23 pm
Followed by:1 members

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

What is the median of the nine consecutive even integers in a certain list?

(1) The median of the integers in the list is greater than 0.
(2) Of the integers in the list, the sum of the least of the negative integers and the least of the positive integers is –4.

Answer: B
Source: Official guide
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
Followed by:1268 members
GMAT Score:770

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

BTGModeratorVI wrote:
Thu Nov 05, 2020 8:01 am
What is the median of the nine consecutive even integers in a certain list?

(1) The median of the integers in the list is greater than 0.
(2) Of the integers in the list, the sum of the least of the negative integers and the least of the positive integers is –4.

Answer: B
Source: Official guide
Target question: What is the median of the nine consecutive even integers in a certain list?

Statement 1: The median of the integers in the list is greater than 0.
There are several scenarios that satisfy statement 1. Here are two:
Case a: The numbers are {0,2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16}. In this case, the answer to the target question is the median is 8
Case b:The numbers are {2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18}. In this case, the answer to the target question is the median is 10
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: Of the integers in the list, the sum of the least of the negative integers and the least of the positive integers is –4.
Useful property: In a set of equally-spaced numbers, mean = mode = (smallest value + biggest value)/2
Statement 2 tells us that smallest value + biggest value = -4
So, we get: (smallest value + biggest value)/2 = (-4)/2 = -2
The answer to the target question is the median is -2
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is SUFFICIENT

Answer: B

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image