Find all School-related info fast with the new School-Specific MBA Forum

 It is currently 02 Jun 2015, 06:12

GMAT Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Events & Promotions

Events & Promotions in June
Open Detailed Calendar

Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the 3

Author Message
TAGS:
CEO
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Posts: 3467
Followers: 61

Kudos [?]: 708 [0], given: 781

Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the 3 [#permalink]  15 Sep 2003, 22:51
00:00

Difficulty:

15% (low)

Question Stats:

70% (02:14) correct 30% (00:39) wrong based on 140 sessions
Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the 3 positive integers x, y, and z?

A. x
B. z
C. x+z
D. (x+z)/2
E. (x+z)/3
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

Last edited by Bunuel on 16 Jun 2013, 06:55, edited 2 times in total.
Edited the question and added the OA
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 27579
Followers: 4341

Kudos [?]: 42822 [1] , given: 6124

Re: Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the 3 [#permalink]  20 Feb 2012, 23:09
1
KUDOS
Expert's post
1
This post was
BOOKMARKED
Praetorian wrote:
Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the 3 positive integers x, y, and z?

A. x
B. z
C. x+z
D. (x+z)/2
E. (x+z)/3

The median of a set with odd number of terms is just a middle term, so it's x, y or z. Eliminate A and B right away. Now, the median can also be (x+z)/2 and (x+z)/3 (for example: {1, 2, 3} and {1, 2, 5}).

But since x, y, and z are positive integers then it no way can be x+z. Why? Because a middle term (the median) cannot possibly be greater than two terms (x and z) in a set with 3 terms.

Notice that, if we were not told that x, y, and z are positive then x+y could be the median, consider {-1, 0, 1}: -1+1=0=median.
_________________
Intern
Joined: 22 Jan 2012
Posts: 22
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 17 [0], given: 11

Re: Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the 3 [#permalink]  21 Feb 2012, 00:38
Bunuel wrote:
Praetorian wrote:
Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the 3 positive integers x, y, and z?

A. x
B. z
C. x+z
D. x+z/2
E. x+z/3

The median of a set with odd number of terms is just a middle term, so it's x, y or z. Eliminate A and B right away. Now, the median can also be (x+y)/2 and (x+y)/3 (for example: {1, 2, 3} and {1, 2, 5}).

But since x, y, and z are positive integers then it no way can be x+y. Why? Because a middle term (the median) cannot possibly be greater than two terms (x and y) in a set with 3 terms.

Notice that, if we were not told that x, y, and z are positive then x+y could be the median, consider {-1, 0, 1}: -1+1=0=median.

Just out of curiosity, is it always to be assumed that the variables are distinct integers? i.e. would there be cases where a gmat question names variables x, y, z without explicitly stating that theyre "distinct" ?
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 27579
Followers: 4341

Kudos [?]: 42822 [0], given: 6124

Re: Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the 3 [#permalink]  21 Feb 2012, 00:41
Expert's post
essarr wrote:
Just out of curiosity, is it always to be assumed that the variables are distinct integers? i.e. would there be cases where a gmat question names variables x, y, z without explicitly stating that theyre "distinct" ?

No, we should not assume that. For example here x, y, and z can be the same integer.
_________________
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 27579
Followers: 4341

Kudos [?]: 42822 [0], given: 6124

Re: Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the 3 [#permalink]  26 May 2013, 04:47
Expert's post
Bumping for review and further discussion.
_________________
Intern
Joined: 22 Jan 2012
Posts: 22
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 17 [0], given: 11

Re: Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the 3 [#permalink]  26 May 2013, 08:01
If x=1, y=2, z=1 then by (C) x+z=2 which is y
But I suppose trick is to remember the median is the "middle value", when variables are arranged in ascending/descending order
Intern
Joined: 05 May 2013
Posts: 12
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 2 [1] , given: 6

Re: Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the 3 [#permalink]  16 Jun 2013, 06:10
1
KUDOS
Bunuel wrote:
Praetorian wrote:
Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the 3 positive integers x, y, and z?

A. x
B. z
C. x+z
D. x+z/2
E. x+z/3

The median of a set with odd number of terms is just a middle term, so it's x, y or z. Eliminate A and B right away. Now, the median can also be (x+y)/2 and (x+y)/3 (for example: {1, 2, 3} and {1, 2, 5}).

But since x, y, and z are positive integers then it no way can be x+y. Why? Because a middle term (the median) cannot possibly be greater than two terms (x and y) in a set with 3 terms.

Notice that, if we were not told that x, y, and z are positive then x+y could be the median, consider {-1, 0, 1}: -1+1=0=median.

You have assumed x+z/2 ==( x+z)/2.
I really see the question as unclear. Should there be brackets?

Posted from GMAT ToolKit
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 27579
Followers: 4341

Kudos [?]: 42822 [0], given: 6124

Re: Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the 3 [#permalink]  16 Jun 2013, 06:57
Expert's post
AbuRashid wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
Praetorian wrote:
Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the 3 positive integers x, y, and z?

A. x
B. z
C. x+z
D. x+z/2
E. x+z/3

The median of a set with odd number of terms is just a middle term, so it's x, y or z. Eliminate A and B right away. Now, the median can also be (x+y)/2 and (x+y)/3 (for example: {1, 2, 3} and {1, 2, 5}).

But since x, y, and z are positive integers then it no way can be x+y. Why? Because a middle term (the median) cannot possibly be greater than two terms (x and y) in a set with 3 terms.

Notice that, if we were not told that x, y, and z are positive then x+y could be the median, consider {-1, 0, 1}: -1+1=0=median.

You have assumed x+z/2 ==( x+z)/2.
I really see the question as unclear. Should there be brackets?

Posted from GMAT ToolKit

As brackets were missing from the options, Edited. Thank you.
_________________
Re: Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the 3   [#permalink] 16 Jun 2013, 06:57
Similar topics Replies Last post
Similar
Topics:
2 If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the resul 2 15 Oct 2014, 15:25
1 Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the four 6 11 Dec 2011, 08:22
1 Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the four cons 10 27 Sep 2009, 17:35
which of the following cannot be the median 3 07 Jul 2009, 04:25
Which of the following CANNOT be the median of the three 3 24 May 2006, 15:43
Display posts from previous: Sort by