What is the median number of audience members attending a showing of a

Question

EMPOWERgmat DS Series:
Pack 2, Question 2

What is the median number of audience members attending a showing of any of the films presented at a certain theater during the most recent weekend?

1) The average number of audience members at the least and most attended showings during the most recent weekend was 95.
2) There were 10 showings of films during the most recent weekend.

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shuvodip04 · Answer

Statement 1: The average number of audience from the least and most attended showings was 95. But here we are don't know the number of showings.

e.g (55,78,98,101,135) Here the median is 98 .e.g 2: (55,78,135) Median is 78

Hence only 1 is not sufficient.

Statement 2: Total number of showings 10. But here we dont get any idea about the number of audience.

1+2

it can have multiple possibilities.

e.g 1 - (55,65,67,88,89,91,95,97,110,135) Median is = 90

e.g 2 - (55,65,67,88,95,105,115,120,130,135) Median is = 100

Not sufficient

Hence ans (E)

minustark · Answer

We can get median of some numbers when more than half of the numbers, either in ascending or descending order, are given. Here, in statement 1, only the average of highest and lowest numbers is given, which is 95. From this,all we can say is total number of audience in 2 showings (95*2)=190. If there were only 2 showings, then 95 would be the median. But as we don't know how many showings were there, we cannot get the median.
Statement 2 only tells us there were 10 showings. We cannot tell about the median from this.
Adding Statement 1 and 2, no information about the median. There are many possible data sets.e.g: {15,23,27,30,38,46,58,69,78,175}, where median is 42. Or, {70,72,74,78,80,82,84,90,100,120},where median is 81. So, both A and B together are not sufficient. Answer: E.

QuantMadeEasy · Answer

Median is the middle reading when number of readings are odd, and average of middle readings when the number of readings are even.

1) With this information we cannot calculate median. Insufficient

2) Average of 5th and 6th reading is median, but values of these readings are not given. Insufficient

1)+2) Still no information regarding median is available. Insufficient

E is correct

ektakdawla · Answer

Median is the middle no when we know total no of elements either in ascending or in descending order.
Statement 1. avg of minim & max elements means total minim & max elements is 190.....multiple median can possible....not suff
Stat 2 only no of shows mentioned....do not know abt no of elements....not suff
1+2.... multiple median possible....we can only know sum of elemets is 950... hence E ans

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
 
Hi All,

We're asked for the MEDIAN number of audience members attending a showing of any of the films presented at a certain theater during the most recent weekend. This question is based on statistical terms and will require some rather specific data for us to answer it.

To find the MEDIAN of a group of numbers, we must put the numbers in order from least to greatest. If we have an ODD number of terms, then the MEDIAN is the one number "in the exact middle"; if we have an EVEN number of terms, then the MEDIAN is the AVERAGE of the two "middle" numbers. For example:

The set {1, 2, 4} has three terms and the median = 2
The set {1, 2, 4, 7} has four terms and the median = (2+4)/2 = 6/2 = 3

1) The average number of audience members at the least and most attended showings during the most recent weekend was 95.

The information in Fact 1 tells us that there are at least 2 numbers to consider, and that the sum of those 2 numbers is 190. If there are just those 2 numbers, then the median is 190/2 = 95. However, if there are any additional numbers, then the median could be something else.
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT

2) There were 10 showings of films during the most recent weekend.

Fact 2 tells us nothing about the individual values, so there's no way to determine the median of this group of 10 numbers.
Fact 2 is INSUFFICIENT

Combined, we know...
-The average number of audience members at the least and most attended showings during the most recent weekend was 95.
-There were 10 showings of films during the most recent weekend.

With 10 numbers, we know that the median will be the average of the "5th" and "6th" numbers. However, we do now know what those numbers are - and the median could change depending on those two specific numbers.
Combined, INSUFFICIENT

Final Answer:  E

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, 
Rich

bumpbot · Answer

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What is the median number of audience members attending a showing of a

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