|
Author |
Message |
|
TAGS:
|
|
|
Intern
Joined: 29 Nov 2012
Posts: 5
Followers: 0
Kudos [?]:
0
[0], given: 0
|
Question Stats:
56% (01:53) correct
43% (01:24) wrong based on 1 sessions
What is x? (1) The median of set (x, 1, -1, 3, -x) = 0 (2) The median of set (x, 1, -1, 3, -x) = x/2 1). there are five elements so the median has to be the middle number, therefore the middle number would have to be zero, so x would have to be zero, however zero is not positive or negative.
Don`t think im understanding the question quite right??
Thanks
Last edited by Bunuel on 30 Nov 2012, 05:05, edited 1 time in total.
Edited the question.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GMAT Club team member
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 11516
Followers: 1791
Kudos [?]:
9536
[0], given: 826
|
sje12 wrote: What is x? (1) The median of set (x, 1, -1, 3, -x) = 0 (2) The median of set (x, 1, -1, 3, -x) = x/2 1). there are five elements so the median has to be the middle number, therefore the middle number would have to be zero, so x would have to be zero, however zero is not positive or negative.
Don`t think im understanding the question quite right??
Thanks The question asks to find the value of x not to determine whether it's positive or negative. What is the value of x?Note that the median of a set with odd number of elements is just the middle element, when arranged in ascending/descending order. (1) The median of set \{x, -1, 1, 3, -x\} is 0. The median of this set of 5 (odd) elements must be the middle term, hence x=0. Sufficient. (2) The median of set \{x, -1, 1, 3, -x\} is \frac{x}{2}. It could be that x=0 (in this case the set is {-1, 0, 0, 1, 3}) as well as it could be that x=2 (in this case the set is {-2, -1, 1, 2, 3}). Not sufficient. Answer: A.
_________________
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW: 11 Rules for Posting!!!
RESOURCES: [GMAT MATH BOOK]; 1. Triangles; 2. Polygons; 3. Coordinate Geometry; 4. Factorials; 5. Circles; 6. Number Theory
COLLECTION OF QUESTIONS: PS: 1. Tough and Tricky questions; 2. Hard questions; 3. Hard questions part 2; 4. Standard deviation; 5. Tough Problem Solving Questions With Solutions; 6. Probability and Combinations Questions With Solutions; 7 Tough and tricky exponents and roots questions; 8 12 Easy Pieces (or not?); 9 Bakers' Dozen; 10 Algebra set. NEW!!!
DS: 1. DS tough questions; 2. DS tough questions part 2; 3. DS tough questions part 3; 4. DS Standard deviation; 5. Inequalities; 6. 700+ GMAT Data Sufficiency Questions With Explanations; 7 Tough and tricky exponents and roots questions; 8 The Discreet Charm of the DS ; 9 Devil's Dozen!!!; 10 Number Properties set. NEW!!!
 What are GMAT Club Tests? 25 extra-hard Quant Tests
Find out what's new at GMAT Club - latest features and updates
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intern
Joined: 29 Nov 2012
Posts: 5
Followers: 0
Kudos [?]:
0
[0], given: 0
|
But they label that x is negative and positive, and zero is not negative or positive, thats just what confuses me, why have they done that, or why is it irrelevant
|
|
|
|
|
|
GMAT Club team member
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 11516
Followers: 1791
Kudos [?]:
9536
[0], given: 826
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|