A data set contains three elements: a, b, and c. If a = b, which of th

Question

A data set contains three elements: a, b, and c. If a = b, which of the following could be the median of the data set?

I. a
II. b
III. c

A. I only
B. II only
C. III only
D. I and II only
E. I, II, III

chetan2u · Answer

So a=b means the elements are a, a and c.

Surely, the increasing order would be a,a,c or c,a,a. In each case a or b is the median.

BUT we know nothing about c.
 If a=b=c, then even c can be the median. 
If x is different from an and b, then a or b is the median.

We are looking at CAN question, so surely c is a possibility.

E

Goldenfuture · Answer

I marked D over a test. Didn't take the possibility that a=b=c. Tricky

dhruva09 · Answer

RenB  can you share the OA ? Can't understand the reason of including the assumption of c=a=b.

Bunuel · Answer

If a = b = c, then all three values are the same, so the median is that same value. In that situation, the median = a = b = c.

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