I think you are right. I think it does mean ordered, but I dont think it is strictly ascending or descending, it could also mean that some variables are the same?

1) 4, 4, 5 works
2) 5, 7, 7 works
3) does not work b/c y is median which should be >= x or <= z.
4) 3, 4, 5 works
5) 3, 3, 6 works

uptowngirl92 wrote:which of the following cannot be the median of the three ordered positive integers x,y and z?
x
z
x+z
x+z/2
x+z/3

I got the correct answer (c) but was thrown off-guard by the word "ordered".What does it mean?At first glance I thought it mens that they are ordered in ascending/descending but i guess not!!Please shed some light.

According to OG 11, the word "ordered" is not stated in the problem. Does this mean that OG made a mistake, because I did not assume they are ordered because it is not mentioned. Can someone help me with this? Thanks in advance

ordered means in order. ascending or descending
but in any case median can only be >= smallest number and <= greatest number
x+z is greater than Z

as for batman73's question, even if they are not ordered, its impossible
lets say 3 numbers x,y and z
IF, x+z is the median
then y must be equal to x+z because thats the only number remaining since neither x nor z is the median.
that means y>=x or x+z>=x-true
but
that also means y<=z or X+Z<=Z- false if all numbers are positive