The residents of Town X participated in a survey to determine the numb

Mean is 21 hours and SD is 6hours

Kotela watched television 1-2 SD below Mean -> which means that Kotela watched television 12 to 6 hours below Mean of 21hours

so number of hours will be between 21-12 & 21 -6 = 9 and 15. Only D - 12 satisfies

The standard deviation is simply the distance a value is away from the mean of the set.
In this case, SD = 6 and the mean = 21

Hence one 1 SD value below the mean = 15 and two SD values below the mean = 9
We need to find the value that falls between 9 and 15.

Going through the options, only one value satisfies this. Option D:12

Mean =21 ; SD= 6
Mean -1 SD= 21-6=15
Mean-2SD - 21- 12 = 9

Range {From 1 SD to 2SD} = 9 to 15
What value lies between 9 to 12 that matches our options ===> 12
ANSWER IS D

i solved this using normal dist. method

mid value = 21
6 deviation to left = 21-6 = 15
12 deviation to left of 21 = 21-16 = 6

the value should be between 6 & 15 =12 hence D

kindly asses and revert, thanks.
Nisha

---------ASIDE--------------------
A little extra background on standard deviations above and below the mean

If, for example, a set has a standard deviation of 4, then:
1 standard deviation = 4
2 standard deviations = 8
3 standard deviations = 12
1.5 standard deviations = 6
0.25 standard deviations = 1
etc


So, if the mean of a set is 9, and the standard deviation is 4, then:
2 standard deviations ABOVE the mean = 17 [since 9 + 2(4) = 17]
1.5 standard deviations BELOW the mean = 3 [since 9 - 1.5(4) = 3]
3 standard deviations ABOVE the mean = 21 [since 9 + 3(4) = 21]
etc.
------ONTO THE QUESTION!-------------

The distribution of the results of the survey had a mean of 21 hours and a standard deviation of 6 hours. The number of hours that Pat, a resident of Town X, watched television last week was between 1 and 2 standard deviations below the mean. Which of the following could be the number of hours that Pat watched television last week?

So, 1 standard deviation BELOW the mean = 21 - 1(6) = 15
And 2 standard deviations BELOW the mean = 21 - 2(6) = 9
So, the number of hours that Pat watched television last week is BETWEEN 9 hours and 15 hours

Check the answer choices . . . . only answer choice D is BETWEEN 9 hours and 15 hours

Answer: D

Cheers,
Brent

1 and 2 standard deviations below the mean=>number of the hours at most is 21-6=15, at least
is 21-2*6=9.
Average of the sum of the squared differences:
770
21 = 36
2
3Answer is D

Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.