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A set consists of 5 distinct positive integers a, b, c, d, e, where b 09 Jan 2019, 02:24
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C
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72% (01:55) correct 28% (02:06) wrong based on 720 sessions

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A set consists of 5 distinct positive integers a, b, c, d, e, where b is the least number and d is the highest number. If the sum of a, c and e is 24, and the mean of all 5 numbers is 8.8, then what is the maximum value of (d – b)?

A. 16
B. 17
C. 18
D. 19
E. 20


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C
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A set consists of 5 distinct positive integers a, b, c, d, e, where b Updated on: 09 Jan 2019, 03:41
Originally posted by Archit3110 on 09 Jan 2019, 03:13.
Last edited by Archit3110 on 09 Jan 2019, 03:41, edited 1 time in total.
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given
b is least integer and d is highest no
and sum of a,b,c= 24
mean of b+24+d/5 =8.8
b+d=20
since d is the highest no it can be 19 and b is least can be 1
so 19-1= 18
IMO C


EgmatQuantExpert
A set consists of 5 distinct positive integers a, b, c, d, e, where b is the least number and d is the highest number. If the sum of a, c and e is 24, and the mean of all 5 numbers is 8.8, then what is the maximum value of (d – b)?

    A. 16
    B. 17
    C. 18
    D. 19
    E. 20


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A set consists of 5 distinct positive integers a, b, c, d, e, where b 09 Jan 2019, 03:38
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Archit3110
given
b is least integer and d is highest no
and sum of a,b,c= 24
mean of b+24+d/5 =8.8
b+d=20
since d is the highest no it can be 20 and b is least can be 0
so 20-0 = 20
IMO E


EgmatQuantExpert
A set consists of 5 distinct positive integers a, b, c, d, e, where b is the least number and d is the highest number. If the sum of a, c and e is 24, and the mean of all 5 numbers is 8.8, then what is the maximum value of (d – b)?

    A. 16
    B. 17
    C. 18
    D. 19
    E. 20


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Hi Archit3110,

Please note that a, b, c, d and e are positive integers

Regards,
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A set consists of 5 distinct positive integers a, b, c, d, e, where b 09 Jan 2019, 03:40
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EgmatQuantExpert

there is a confusion regarding usage of 0 ;
what i know is that 0 is neither +ve or -ve integer

if a statement says n is a set of +ve integers then we begin set n from (1,2,3...)

and if statement says n is a set of non negative integer then we begin set from ( 0,1,2,3,..)

will 0 be considered in set of +ve even integers? i.e (0,2,4,6,.) or not?

EgmatQuantExpert
in that case b =1 and d = 19
and d-b = 18
IMO C



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Archit3110
given
b is least integer and d is highest no
and sum of a,b,c= 24
mean of b+24+d/5 =8.8
b+d=20
since d is the highest no it can be 20 and b is least can be 0
so 20-0 = 20
IMO E


EgmatQuantExpert
A set consists of 5 distinct positive integers a, b, c, d, e, where b is the least number and d is the highest number. If the sum of a, c and e is 24, and the mean of all 5 numbers is 8.8, then what is the maximum value of (d – b)?

    A. 16
    B. 17
    C. 18
    D. 19
    E. 20


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Hi Archit3110,

Please note that a, b, c, d and e are positive integers

Regards,
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A set consists of 5 distinct positive integers a, b, c, d, e, where b 09 Jan 2019, 03:53
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Archit3110
EgmatQuantExpert

there is a confusion regarding usage of 0 ;
what i know is that 0 is neither +ve or -ve integer

if a statement says n is a set of +ve integers then we begin set n from (1,2,3...)

and if statement says n is a set of non negative integer then we begin set from ( 0,1,2,3,..)

will 0 be considered in set of +ve even integers? i.e (0,2,4,6,.) or not?
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Yes, 0 is neither a positive integer nor a negative integer.
    It will be included in a set of non-negative and non-positive integers but it must be excluded from the set of positive or negative integers

Though, 0 is an even integer, it cannot be considered as a positive even integer. Since, 0 is not a positive integer

Regards,
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A set consists of 5 distinct positive integers a, b, c, d, e, where b 09 Jan 2019, 03:57
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EgmatQuantExpert

thanks :)

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Archit3110
EgmatQuantExpert

there is a confusion regarding usage of 0 ;
what i know is that 0 is neither +ve or -ve integer

if a statement says n is a set of +ve integers then we begin set n from (1,2,3...)

and if statement says n is a set of non negative integer then we begin set from ( 0,1,2,3,..)

will 0 be considered in set of +ve even integers? i.e (0,2,4,6,.) or not?

Yes, 0 is neither a positive integer nor a negative integer.
    It will be included in a set of non-negative and non-positive integers but it must be excluded from the set of positive or negative integers

Though, 0 is an even integer, it cannot be considered as a positive even integer. Since, 0 is not a positive integer

Regards,
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A set consists of 5 distinct positive integers a, b, c, d, e, where b 11 Jan 2019, 07:12
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Solution


Given:
    • A set of 5 distinct positive integers, {a, b, c, d, e}
    • b is the least number and d is the highest number of the set
    • a + c + e = 24
    • Mean of the set = 8.8

To find:
    • The maximum value of (d – b)

Approach and Working:
    • a + c + e = 24 ………………………….………………………………… (1)
    • \(\frac{(a + b + c + d + e)}{5} = 8.8\)
      o Implies, a + b + c + d + e = 5 * 8.8 = 44 …………… (2)

(2) – (1), we get,
    • b + d = 44 – 24 = 20
    • For d – b to be maximum, b must be minimum
      o The minimum value b can take is 1, since b is a positive integer

    • If b = 1, then d = 20 – 1 = 19

Therefore, the maximum value of (d – b) = 19 – 1 = 18

Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Answer: C

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A set consists of 5 distinct positive integers a, b, c, d, e, where b 19 Jan 2019, 06:35
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EgmatQuantExpert
A set consists of 5 distinct positive integers a, b, c, d, e, where b is the least number and d is the highest number. If the sum of a, c and e is 24, and the mean of all 5 numbers is 8.8, then what is the maximum value of (d – b)?

    A. 16
    B. 17
    C. 18
    D. 19
    E. 20
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The mean of all 5 numbers is 8.8
(a + b + c + d + e)/5 = 8.8
Multiply both sides by 5 to get: a + b + c + d + e = 44

The sum of a, c and e is 24
(a + c + e) = 24
So, take a + b + c + d + e = 44 and rewrite as: (a + c + e) + b + d = 44
We get: (24) + b + d = 44
So, b + d = 20

b is the least number and d is the highest number
Since b and d are POSITIVE INTEGERS, and since we're tying to MAXIMIZE the value of (d - b), we want to MAXIMIZE d and MINIMIZE b
This is accomplished when d = 19 and b = 1

What is the maximum value of (d – b)?
d - b = 19 - 1 = 18

Answer: C

Cheers,
Brent

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A set consists of 5 distinct positive integers a, b, c, d, e, where b 27 Jan 2019, 11:03
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EgmatQuantExpert
A set consists of 5 distinct positive integers a, b, c, d, e, where b is the least number and d is the highest number. If the sum of a, c and e is 24, and the mean of all 5 numbers is 8.8, then what is the maximum value of (d – b)?

    A. 16
    B. 17
    C. 18
    D. 19
    E. 20
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We know that a + c + e = 24. Because the mean of the 5 numbers is 8.8, we see that their sum must be 5 x 8.8 = 44. Thus, a + b + c + d + e = 44.

Subtracting the first equation from the second equation, we obtain:
b + d = 44 - 24 = 20.

To maximize the difference of b and d, we will choose b to be as small as possible and d to be as large as possible. Thus, if b = 1 then d = 19, and the maximum value of (d - b) is 18.

Answer: C
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