k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? : GMAT Data Sufficiency (DS)
Check GMAT Club Decision Tracker for the Latest School Decision Releases https://gmatclub.com/AppTrack

 It is currently 28 Feb 2017, 07:22

### 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

# k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above?

Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Senior Manager
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Posts: 325
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 47 [1] , given: 0

k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

05 Sep 2007, 07:41
1
KUDOS
4
This post was
BOOKMARKED
00:00

Difficulty:

25% (medium)

Question Stats:

72% (01:42) correct 28% (00:54) wrong based on 334 sessions

### HideShow timer Statistics

k, n, 12, 6, 17
What is the value of n in the list above?

(1) k < n
(2) The median of the numbers in the list is 10.

OPEN DISCUSSION OF THIS QUESTION IS HERE: what-is-the-value-of-n-in-the-list-above-105889.html
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

Last edited by Bunuel on 01 Mar 2015, 03:26, edited 1 time in total.
SVP
Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 2132
Followers: 3

Kudos [?]: 140 [0], given: 0

Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

05 Sep 2007, 07:52
Assuming that k and n are integers, st1 tells us nothing about a value. st2 gives us some info, but k can equal 10 and n equal 7 or vice versa.

st1 and 2 combined tells us that n must be the median and 10.

I'll go with C

sidbidus wrote:
k, n, 12, 6, 17
What is the value of n in the list above?

(1) k < n
(2) The median of the numbers in the list is 10.
Director
Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 567
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 52 [1] , given: 0

Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

05 Sep 2007, 13:48
1
KUDOS
sidbidus wrote:
k, n, 12, 6, 17
What is the value of n in the list above?

(1) k < n
(2) The median of the numbers in the list is 10.

Vote for C

1 insuff
2 insuff

both, let`s start with 2nd statement, it says median is 10, that means 12 and 17 must come after 10, thus three numbers must be 10, 12 and 17. {median by deffinition is the middle number, when the number of numbers is odd, 5 in this case}, so we have: (some number), 6, 10, 12,17
"some number" can be either n or k, "some number" must be less than 10. Since the 1st statement says that k<n, n is 10, and k is "some number"...
SVP
Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Posts: 1820
Location: New York
Followers: 35

Kudos [?]: 884 [0], given: 5

Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 Aug 2008, 07:36
chan4312 wrote:
k, n, 12, 6, 17
What is the value of n in the list above?

(1) k < n
(2) The median of the numbers in the list is 10.

A. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.
B. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.
C. BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.
D. EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.
E. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

1) insuffciient (two variables..)
we don't the pattern

2) k, n, 12, 6, 17
re arrange in the ascending order.. following two combinations are possible.
either way n is median.. so n=10
6 ,k, n, 12,17
k,6, n, 12,17

_________________

Smiling wins more friends than frowning

SVP
Joined: 28 Dec 2005
Posts: 1575
Followers: 3

Kudos [?]: 150 [0], given: 2

Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 Aug 2008, 07:51
C for me.

It cant be B since you can have 6,k,n,12,17 or 6,n,k,12,17. Considering both statements together you effectively rule out the second case since k<n. Therefore n=median=10
SVP
Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Posts: 1820
Location: New York
Followers: 35

Kudos [?]: 884 [0], given: 5

Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 Aug 2008, 08:11
pmenon wrote:
C for me.

It cant be B since you can have 6,k,n,12,17 or 6,n,k,12,17. Considering both statements together you effectively rule out the second case since k<n. Therefore n=median=10

Yeap!! you are right..

for the second statment I combined both and answered B..

obvisiously it is C..
Oh!! God when will I stop the making care less mistakes..
_________________

Smiling wins more friends than frowning

Manager
Joined: 04 Jun 2008
Posts: 159
Followers: 3

Kudos [?]: 78 [0], given: 0

Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 Aug 2008, 08:30
x2suresh wrote:
pmenon wrote:
C for me.

It cant be B since you can have 6,k,n,12,17 or 6,n,k,12,17. Considering both statements together you effectively rule out the second case since k<n. Therefore n=median=10

Yeap!! you are right..

for the second statment I combined both and answered B..

obvisiously it is C..
Oh!! God when will I stop the making care less mistakes..

OA is C.
I still can not understand how did you assess the value of k to find the value of n.
did you use your cognitive abilities to assess values..or do we have a formula to do it.

How did you find that n is 10.
SVP
Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Posts: 1820
Location: New York
Followers: 35

Kudos [?]: 884 [1] , given: 5

Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 Aug 2008, 09:02
1
KUDOS
chan4312 wrote:
x2suresh wrote:
pmenon wrote:
C for me.

It cant be B since you can have 6,k,n,12,17 or 6,n,k,12,17. Considering both statements together you effectively rule out the second case since k<n. Therefore n=median=10

Yeap!! you are right..

for the second statment I combined both and answered B..

obvisiously it is C..
Oh!! God when will I stop the making care less mistakes..

OA is C.
I still can not understand how did you assess the value of k to find the value of n.
did you use your cognitive abilities to assess values..or do we have a formula to do it.

How did you find that n is 10.

median of x1,x2,x3,x4,x5
iss x3 ( when you arrange them in ascending order)

We have six numbers given.. k, n, 12, 6, 17
(to find the median arrange then in ascending order)
6,12,17 ( we don't know where k and n com in this order)
State 1) says k<n means k alsways comes before n.
series can be..
k,n,6,12,17
k,6,12,17,n
.... (you get more combinations)..

State 2) median is 10 (that means middle numbe must be 10)
__, __, 10,12,17
there are only two posibility with the above combinations
6,_,10,12,17
_,6,10,12,17
here other number_ must be k becaue k<n so 10 must be N.
assume that 10 is k then k<n is contradicting.

_________________

Smiling wins more friends than frowning

Senior Manager
Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 327
Followers: 2

Kudos [?]: 308 [0], given: 0

Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 Aug 2008, 09:31
Guys good explanantion. There is one more way to do this problem

S1. As mentioned it is a MAYBE case AD are out

S2. Median is 10. Since there are five numbers in this series the average must also be 10.
{6+12+17+(n+k)}/5 = 10
n+k = 15

Combine: Now we know that wither n or k is 10, but since k<n
n = 10

IMO C
Intern
Joined: 02 Aug 2008
Posts: 34
Followers: 0

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

Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 Aug 2008, 11:04
x97agarwal wrote:
Guys good explanantion. There is one more way to do this problem

S1. As mentioned it is a MAYBE case AD are out

S2. Median is 10. Since there are five numbers in this series the average must also be 10.
{6+12+17+(n+k)}/5 = 10
n+k = 15

Combine: Now we know that wither n or k is 10, but since k<n
n = 10

IMO C

How do you know that average(arithmetic mean) must also be 10?

List could be 6,7,10,12,17 (k=7, n=10, k<n) with an average(arithmetic mean) of 10.4.
SVP
Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Posts: 1820
Location: New York
Followers: 35

Kudos [?]: 884 [0], given: 5

Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 Aug 2008, 11:08
new2gmat wrote:
x97agarwal wrote:
Guys good explanantion. There is one more way to do this problem

S1. As mentioned it is a MAYBE case AD are out

S2. Median is 10. Since there are five numbers in this series the average must also be 10.
{6+12+17+(n+k)}/5 = 10
n+k = 15

Combine: Now we know that wither n or k is 10, but since k<n
n = 10

IMO C

How do you know that average(arithmetic mean) must also be 10?

List could be 6,7,10,12,17 (k=7, n=10, k<n) with an average(arithmetic mean) of 10.4.

good point..

Its median=10 not the mean=10...

So this approach is not correct.
_________________

Smiling wins more friends than frowning

Retired Moderator
Joined: 18 Jul 2008
Posts: 994
Followers: 10

Kudos [?]: 203 [0], given: 5

Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 Aug 2008, 14:09
Mean = median in a series.

We don't know that the numbers listed were a list of series.

x97agarwal wrote:
Guys good explanantion. There is one more way to do this problem

S1. As mentioned it is a MAYBE case AD are out

S2. Median is 10. Since there are five numbers in this series the average must also be 10.
{6+12+17+(n+k)}/5 = 10
n+k = 15

Combine: Now we know that wither n or k is 10, but since k<n
n = 10

IMO C
VP
Joined: 17 Jun 2008
Posts: 1397
Followers: 8

Kudos [?]: 299 [0], given: 0

Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 Aug 2008, 16:26
chan4312 wrote:
k, n, 12, 6, 17
What is the value of n in the list above?

(1) k < n
(2) The median of the numbers in the list is 10.

A. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.
B. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.
C. BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.
D. EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.
E. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

lets arrange the numbers in increasing order :
6 12 17 with k,n occurring anywhere

hence consider
(1) k < n --------> it does not help in finding n
(2) median of numbers is 10 => k,n can occur anywhere hence either k or n can be 10
(1) & (2) cannot help since k <n does not say whether k=10 or n=10

INSUFFI
IMO E

_________________

cheers
Its Now Or Never

Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Posts: 7194
Location: Pune, India
Followers: 2175

Kudos [?]: 14064 [3] , given: 222

Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 Dec 2010, 17:41
3
KUDOS
Expert's post
1
This post was
BOOKMARKED
ajit257 wrote:
k, n, 12, 6, 17
What is the value of n in the list above?

(1) k < n
(2) The median of the numbers in the list is 10.

I thought n have numerous value here ? Can someone explain where i am going wrong

Perfect example of how simple looking statistics questions can be a little tricky.

k, n, 12, 6, 17

Stmnt 1: k < n
No idea what n is. Not sufficient.

Stmnt 2: The median of the list is 10.
Since the list has 5 numbers i.e. odd number of numbers, the median must be the middle number i.e. the 3rd number when the numbers in the list are in increasing/decreasing order. Since 10 has to be a number in the list, either k or n has to be 10. But we do not know yet whether k is 10 or n is 10. So we don't know the value of n. Not sufficient.

Using both together, we know one of k and n is 10. We also know that k < n.
If k = 10, n is 10.1/11/12/13/14......etc etc etc
But then the list becomes: 6, k(10), n, 12, 17 (whatever be the arrangement of last 3 elements). k will not be the middle number in this case and hence 10 will not be the median.
If n = 10, k < 10 so the list will look something like:
6, k, n(10), 12, 17 ... Here 10 is the median. n must be 10. Hence, both together are sufficient.
_________________

Karishma
Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor
My Blog

Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for $199 Veritas Prep Reviews Senior Manager Joined: 28 Aug 2010 Posts: 260 Followers: 6 Kudos [?]: 584 [0], given: 11 Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 06 Dec 2010, 17:48 Karishma, Thanks a tonne. Awesome. I wasted a quite some time on this question. Could you please give some pointer as to how to deal with type of question in future. _________________ Verbal:new-to-the-verbal-forum-please-read-this-first-77546.html Math: new-to-the-math-forum-please-read-this-first-77764.html Gmat: everything-you-need-to-prepare-for-the-gmat-revised-77983.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ajit Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 7194 Location: Pune, India Followers: 2175 Kudos [?]: 14064 [0], given: 222 Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 06 Dec 2010, 21:46 ajit257 wrote: Karishma, Thanks a tonne. Awesome. I wasted a quite some time on this question. Could you please give some pointer as to how to deal with type of question in future. Practice some questions based on Median. Tag search for some on this forum itself. Median is the most time consuming to figure out in case of missing values or new values. Sometimes range can also be fun. If you get stuck somewhere, let me know... I intend to write a complete post on statistics concepts soon. Check out http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/ and search for 'Quarter Wit Quarter Wisdom' (That is the tag I use to put my posts.) Look for statistics post in the coming weeks. _________________ Karishma Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor My Blog Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for$199

Veritas Prep Reviews

Manager
Joined: 13 Jul 2010
Posts: 169
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 76 [0], given: 7

Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

07 Dec 2010, 23:22
wow very tricky. I selected the trap answer E by quickly coming to the conclusion that I couldn't tell even with both statements whether k or n was the median so would not N's value.
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Posts: 14002
Followers: 592

Kudos [?]: 168 [0], given: 0

Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

28 Feb 2015, 19:19
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
_________________
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 37154
Followers: 7278

Kudos [?]: 96860 [1] , given: 10808

Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

01 Mar 2015, 03:28
1
KUDOS
Expert's post
sidbidus wrote:
k, n, 12, 6, 17
What is the value of n in the list above?

(1) k < n
(2) The median of the numbers in the list is 10.

k, n, 12, 6, 17
What is the value of n in the list above?

Given list: {k, n, 6, 12, 17}

(1) k < n. Clearly insufficient.
(2) The median of the numbers in the list is 10 --> now, the list contains odd # of terms, thus its median is the middle term and since no other term is 10 then either n or k must be 10, but we don't know which one. Not sufficient.

(1)+(2) Since from (1) k<n then k=10=median is not possible, because in this case 3 terms will be greater than k (n, 12, and 17) and it won't be the middle term (it'll be the second term), for example {6, k=10, n, 12, 17}. Thus n must be 10. Sufficient.

OPEN DISCUSSION OF THIS QUESTION IS HERE: what-is-the-value-of-n-in-the-list-above-105889.html
_________________
Re: k, n, 12, 6, 17 What is the value of n in the list above?   [#permalink] 01 Mar 2015, 03:28
Similar topics Replies Last post
Similar
Topics:
What is the value of (n + 1)^2? 4 01 Jun 2016, 03:30
What is the value of k-n ? 2 23 Feb 2016, 07:02
6 What is the value of n in the list above? 8 13 Aug 2012, 06:17
6 If n + k = m, what is the value of k ? 9 13 Aug 2012, 06:10
11 What is the value of n in the list above? 12 06 Dec 2010, 17:24
Display posts from previous: Sort by