Averages 279
Answers and Solutions to Problem Set P
Easy
1. The definition of median is “When a set of numbers is arranged in order of size, the median is the
middle number. If a set contains an even number of elements, then the median is the average of the two
middle elements.”
From the number line M = 16, P = 18, Q = 20, R = 21, and S = 25. The numbers arranged in order are 16,
18, 20, 21, and 25. The median is 20. Since Q = 20, the answer is (C).
2. The average of 13 and 23 is (13 + 23)/2 = 36/2 = 18, so the last digit is 8.
The average of 113 and 123 is (113 + 123)/2 = 236/2 = 118, so the last digit is also 8.
Hence, Column A equals Column B, and the answer is (C).
3. Column A: The mean rainfall for the 8 months is the sum of the eight rainfall measurements divided by
8:
2 + 4 + 4 + 5+ 7 + 9 + 10 + 11
= 6.5
8
Column B: When a set of numbers is arranged in order of size, the median is the middle number. If a set
contains an even number of elements, then the median is the average of the two middle elements. The
average of 5 and 7 is 6, which is the median of the set. Hence, Column A is greater than Column B, and the
answer is (A).
Medium
4. Cadre A has 30 employees whose mean age is 27. Hence, the sum of their ages is 30 27 = 810. Cadre
B has 70 employees whose mean age is 23. Hence, the sum of their ages is 23 70 = 1610. Now, the total
sum of the ages of the 100 (= 30 + 70) employees is 810 + 1610 = 2420. Hence, the average age is
The sum of the ages divided by the number of employees =
2420/100 =
24.2
The answer is (B).
5. Let a and b be the two angles in the question, with a > b. We are given that the difference between the
angles is 24°, so a – b = 24. Since the average of the two angles is 54°, we have (a + b)/2 = 54. Solving for
b in the first equation yields b = a – 24, and substituting this into the second equation yields
a + ( a 24)
= 54
2
2a 24
= 54
2
2a – 24 = 54 2
2a – 24 = 108
2a = 108 + 24
2a = 132
a = 66
Also, b = a – 24 = 66 – 24 = 42.
Now, let c be the third angle of the triangle. Since the sum of the angles in the triangle is 180°, a + b + c =
180. Plugging the previous results into the equation yields 66 + 42 + c = 180. Solving for c yields c = 72.
Hence, the greatest of the three angles a, b and c is c, which equals 72°. The answer is (D).
280 GRE Math Bible
6. The perimeter of a rectangle is twice the sum of its length and width. Hence, if l and w are length and
width, respectively, of the given rectangle, then the perimeter of the rectangle is 2(l + w). Also, the average
side length of the rectangle is 1/4 times the sum. So, the average side length is 2(l + w)/4 = l/2 + w/2.
Now, we are given that the average equals twice the width. Hence, we have l/2 + w/2 = 2w. Multiplying the
equation by 2 yields l + w = 4w and solving for l yields l = 3w.
Now, the area of the rectangle equals length width = l w = 18 (given). Plugging 3w for l in the equation
yields 3w w = 18. Dividing the equation by 3 yields w 2 = 6, and square rooting both sides yields w = 6 .
Finally, the perimeter equals 2(l + w) = 2(3w + w) = 8w = 8 6 . The answer is (B).
7. Setting the angle sum of the quadrilateral to 360° yields A + B + C + D = 360. Subtracting A
from both sides yields B + C + D = 360 – A. Forming the average of the three angles B, C, and
D yields (B + C + D)/3 and this equals (360 – A)/3, since we know that B + C + D =
360 – A. Now, we are given that A measures 20 degrees more than the average of the other three angles.
Hence, A = (360 – A)/3 + 20. Solving the equation for A yields A = 105. The answer is (D).
8. The average of the five numbers 56, 95, 98, 100, and 126 is
56 + 95+ 98 + 100 + 126
=
5
475
=
5
95
Hence, the average of the five numbers 1056 (= 1000 + 56), 1095 (= 1000 + 95), 1098 (= 1000 + 98),
1100 (= 1000 + 100), and 1126 (= 1000 + 126) must be 1000 + 95 = 1095. The point that represents the
number on the number line is point B. Hence, the answer is (B).
9. The arithmetic mean of m and n is 50. Hence, (m + n)/2 = 50. Multiplying the equation by 2 yields
m + n = 100.
The arithmetic mean of p and q is 70. Hence, (p + q)/2 = 70. Multiplying the equation by 2 yields p + q =
140.
Now, the arithmetic mean of m, n, p, and q is
m+ n + p+ q
=
4
( m + n) + ( p + q) =
4
100 + 140
=
4
240
=
4
60
The answer is (C).
10. The average of the elements in the original set S is (0 + 2 + 4 + 5 + 9)/5 = 20/5 = 4. If we remove an
element that equals the average, then the average of the new set will remain unchanged. The new set after
removing 4 is {0, 2, 5, 9}. The average of the elements is (0 + 2 + 5 + 9)/4 = 16/4 = 4. The answer is (C).
Averages 281
Hard
11. Let the three numbers be x, y, and z. We are given that
x+y
=2
2
y+z
=3
2
x+z
=4
2
Summing the three equations yields
x+y y+z x+z
+ + = 2 + 3+ 4
2 2 2
x y y z x z
+ + + + + =9
2 2 2 2 2 2
x+y+z=9
The average of the three numbers is (x + y + z)/3 = 9/3 = 3. The answer is (C).
12. Let the number of players on team A be a and the number of players on team B be b. Since the average
age of the players on team A is 20, the sum of the ages of the players on the team is 20a. Similarly, since
the average age of the players on team B is b, the sum of the ages of the players on the team is 30b.
Now, the average age of the players of the two teams together is
Sum of the ages of the players on each team
=
Total number of players on the teams
20a + 30b
a +b
We are given that this average is 26. Hence, we have
20a + 30b
= 26
a +b
20a + 30b = 26a + 26b by multiplying both sides by a + b
4b = 6a by subtracting 20a + 26b from both sides
b/a = 6/4 = 3/2
Since a and b are both positive (being the team strengths) and since b/a equals 3/2, which is greater than 1,
b must be greater than a. Hence, Column B is greater than Column A, and the answer is (B).
13. Let a, b, and c be the annual incomes of Jack, Jill, and Jess, respectively.
Now, we are given that
The arithmetic mean of the annual incomes of Jack and Jill was $3800. Hence, (a + b)/2 = 3800.
Multiplying by 2 yields a + b = 2 3800 = 7600.
The arithmetic mean of the annual incomes of Jill and Jess was $4800. Hence, (b + c)/2 = 4800.
Multiplying by 2 yields b + c = 2 4800 = 9600.
The arithmetic mean of the annual incomes of Jess and Jack was $5800. Hence, (c + a)/2 = 5800.
Multiplying by 2 yields c + a = 2 5800 = 11,600.
Summing these three equations yields
282 GRE Math Bible
(a + b) + (b + c) + (c + a) = 7600 + 9600 + 11,600
2a + 2b + 2c = 28,800
a + b + c = 14,400
The average of the incomes of the three equals the sum of the incomes divided by 3:
(a + b + c)/3 =
14,400/3 =
4800
The answer is (D).
14. Mike ran 10 miles at 10 mph (for the Time = Distance/Rate = 10 miles/10 mph = 1 hour). He ran the
remaining 20 miles at 5 mph (for the Time = Distance/Rate = 20 miles/5 mph = 4 hrs). The length of the
Marathon track is 30 miles, and the total time taken to cover the track is 5 hours.
Now, let the time taken by Fritz to travel the 30-mile Marathon track be t hours. Then as given, Fritz ran at
10 mph for t/3 hours and at 5 mph for the rest of 2t/3 hours. Hence, by formula, Distance = Rate time, the
t 2t 10 10 20
distance covered is (10 mph) + ( 5 mph) = + t = t = 30 miles . Solving the equation for t
3 3 3 3 3
yields t = 90/20 = 4.5 hours.
Since Fritz took less time to cover the Marathon than Mike, the average speed of Fritz is greater. Hence,
Column B is greater than Column A, and the answer is (B).
15. Column A: The five consecutive integers starting from m are m, m + 1, m + 2, m + 3, and m + 4. The
average of the five numbers equals
The sum of the five numbers
=
5
m + ( m + 1) + ( m + 2) + ( m + 3) + ( m + 4 )
=
5
5m + 10
=
5
m+2
Column B: The six consecutive integers starting from m are m, m + 1, m + 2, m + 3, m + 4, and m + 5. The
average of the six numbers equals
The sum of the six numbers
=
6
m + ( m + 1) + ( m + 2) + ( m + 3) + ( m + 4 ) + ( m + 5)
=
6
6m + 15
=
6
5
m+ =
2
1
m+ 2+ =
2
1
( m + 2) + =
2
1
Column A +
2
Since Column B is 1/2 units greater than Column A, the answer is (B).
Averages 283
Method II
Choose any five consecutive integers, say, –2, –1, 0, 1 and 2. (We chose these particular numbers to make
the calculation as easy as possible. But any five consecutive integers will do. For example, 1, 2, 3, 4, and
1+ (2) + 0 + 1+ 2 0
5.) Forming the average yields = = 0. Now, add 3 to the set to form 6 consecutive
5 5
integers: –2, –1, 0, 1, 2, and 3. Forming the average yields
1+ (2) + 0 + 1+ 2 + 3
=
6
[1 + (2) + 0 + 1+ 2] + 3
=
6
[0] + 3
= since the average of – 1 + (–2) + 0 + 1 + 2 is zero, their sum must be zero
6
3
=
6
1
2
Since 1/2 > 0, Column B is greater than Column A and the answer is (B).
a +b
16. The arithmetic mean of the numbers a and b is 17. Hence, = 17.
2
The geometric mean of the numbers a and b is 8. Hence, ab = 8.
a +b a + a
Now, assume a = b. Then = = a = 17. Hence, ab = aa = a = 17 . But, we are given that
2 2
ab = 8. Hence, our assumption is wrong. So a b.
Now, suppose the solution for the question is a = s and b = t, and say s is greater than t. Then (s + t)/2 must
equal 17 and st must equal 8. Here, Column A = a > b = Column B.
Even a = t and b = s is possible (by substitution we get, (t + s)/2 = 17 and st = 8 ). Here, a < b. Hence, we
have a double case, and the answer is (D).
Very Hard
17. Let e be the number of employees.
We are given that 40% of the employees are workers. Now, 40% of e is 40/100 e = 0.4e. Hence, the
number of workers is 2e/5.
All the remaining employees are executives, so the number of executives equals
(The number of Employees) – (The number of Workers) =
e – 2e/5 =
3e/5
The annual income of each worker is $390. Hence, the total annual income of all the workers together is
2e/5 390 = 156e.
Also, the annual income of each executive is $420. Hence, the total income of all the executives together is
3e/5 420 = 252e.
Hence, the total income of the employees is 156e + 252e = 408e.
The average income of all the employees together equals
284 GRE Math Bible
(The total income of all the employees) ÷ (The number of employees) =
408e/e =
408
The answer is (C).
18. Let a, b, c, d, and e be the five positive numbers in the decreasing order of size such that e is the
smallest number. We are given that the average of the five numbers is 25. Hence, we have the equation
a +b+c + d +e
= 25
5
a + b + c + d + e = 125 … (1) by multiplying by 5
The smallest number in a set is at least less than the average of the numbers in the set if at least one number
is different. For example, the average of 1, 2, and 3 is 2, and the smallest number in the set 1 is less than the
average 2. Hence, we have the inequality
0 < e < 25
0 > –e > –25 by multiplying both sides of the inequality by –1 and flipping
the directions of the inequalities.
Adding this inequality to equation (1) yields
0 + 125 > (a + b + c + d + e) + (–e) > 125 – 25
125 > a + b + c + d > 100
125 > a + b + c + d + 0 > 100 by adding by 0
a +b+c + d + 0
25 > = > 20 by dividing the inequality by 5
5
25 > The average of numbers a, b, c, d and 0 > 20
Hence, Column A equals =
(Average of the numbers a, b, c, d, and e) – (Average of the numbers a, b, c, and d) =
25 – (A number between 20 and 25) =
A number less than 5
Hence, Column A is less than Column B, and the answer is (B).
