FaisalBahar
Kinshook
Navneetsingh
Is the median of three numbers x, y, z equal to y?
(1) x < y
(2) x = z
Asked: Is the median of three numbers x, y, z equal to y?
(1) x < y
No information is provided for z
NOT SUFFICIENT
(2) x = z
No information is provided for y
NOT SUFFICIENT
(1) + (2)
(1) x < y
(2) x = z
{x=z}----y
y is not the median
SUFFICIENT
IMO C
The median of three numbers is the middle value and so in the given case median is y.
Y can take any value but it is y as media. (Statement 1 Sufficient as median is always y irrespective of any value of y). Here it is not asked what is the value of y.
Similarly for statement 2 x and z are equal or not equal median is always y.
Where am I wrong? Please explain.
Statement 1: x < y
YES. Y can take any value. But, Y IS NOT ALWAYS MEDIAN.
Let, x=2,
y=3,
Z=4 [Here, Median =3 and Y=3. So YES, Y is the MEDIAN]
Let, x=2,
y=3,
Z=1 [Here, Median =2 and Y=3. So NO, Y is NOT the MEDIAN]
Let, x=2,
y=5,
Z=1 [Here, Median =2 and Y=5. So NO, Y is NOT the MEDIAN]
Statement 1: x = z
YES. Y can take any value. But, Y IS NOT ALWAYS MEDIAN.
Let, x=3,
y=3, Z=3 [Here, Median =3 and Y=3. So YES, Y is the MEDIAN]
Let, x=5,
y=3, Z=5 [Here, Median =5 and Y=3. So NO, Y is NOT the MEDIAN]
Let, x=3,
y=5, Z=3 [Here, Median =3 and Y=5. So NO, Y is NOT the MEDIAN]
Combining BOTH:
Since X and Z are equal and Y is greater than Y. So Y is also greater than Z. Thus Y is the greatest value.
So, if we arrange the dataset in increasing order, it will become {x,z,y} or {z,x,y}. So, Y is the greatest value. So, Y CAN NOT the median of the dataset.
C is the answer.