8, 5, x, 6

[carlosutrillas]

8, 5, x, 6

The median of the list of positive integers above is 5.5. Which of the following could be the average (arithmetic mean) of the list?

a) 3
b) 5.5
c) 6.25
d) 7
e) 7.5

The answer is B.

I understand the question but there is something I do not understand. Why x must be the smallest number? The problem says "list of positive integers" not "list of different positive integers"...

Then, x could be 6 and I could have the following set "8, 5, 6, 6" and the median would be 5,5 and the average 6,25

[jnelson0612]

8, 5, x, 6

The median of the list of positive integers above is 5.5. Which of the following could be the average (arithmetic mean) of the list?

a) 3
b) 5.5
c) 6.25
d) 7
e) 7.5

The answer is B.

I understand the question but there is something I do not understand. Why x must be the smallest number? The problem says "list of positive integers" not "list of different positive integers"...

Then, x could be 6 and I could have the following set "8, 5, 6, 6" and the median would be 5,5 and the average 6,25

Be careful! The median is always the middle value of a set. In the case of a set with an even number of members, the median will be the average of the two middle numbers of the set.

If the set is 5, 6, 6, 8, the median will be 6, not 5.5. x cannot be 6 if the median is 5.5; at the highest it can be 5.

[carlosutrillas]

OMG I just did a stupid question! Many thanks for the answer.

It is now clear. I do not get how I did not realise about that!

Thanks! ;)

[jnelson0612]

OMG I just did a stupid question! Many thanks for the answer.

It is now clear. I do not get how I did not realise about that!

Thanks! ;)

No problem! That's what we are here for. :-)