Last visit was: 20 Apr 2026, 22:40 It is currently 20 Apr 2026, 22:40
Close
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
Your Progress

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
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 20 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,715
Own Kudos:
810,310
 [5]
Given Kudos: 105,795
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,715
Kudos: 810,310
 [5]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
4
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
kungfury42
Joined: 07 Jan 2022
Last visit: 31 May 2023
Posts: 580
Own Kudos:
517
 [5]
Given Kudos: 724
Schools: NUS '25 (A)
GMAT 1: 740 Q51 V38
GPA: 4
Products:
Schools: NUS '25 (A)
GMAT 1: 740 Q51 V38
Posts: 580
Kudos: 517
 [5]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
zhanbo
Joined: 27 Feb 2017
Last visit: 07 Jul 2024
Posts: 1,464
Own Kudos:
2,478
 [2]
Given Kudos: 114
Location: United States (WA)
GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42
GMAT 2: 760 Q50 V42
GRE 1: Q169 V168
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 760 Q50 V42
GRE 1: Q169 V168
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Posts: 1,464
Kudos: 2,478
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
desertEagle
Joined: 14 Jun 2014
Last visit: 03 Aug 2025
Posts: 550
Own Kudos:
348
 [2]
Given Kudos: 413
Posts: 550
Kudos: 348
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
3, 8, a, 17, b

If b = 3a, is the average (arithmetic mean) of the five terms in the list above less than 8?

(1) a > 2
(2) a^2 < 9


Are You Up For the Challenge: 700 Level Questions

Project DS Butler Data Sufficiency (DS3)


For DS butler Questions Click Here

\(\frac{3+8+a+17+3a}{5}<8\)
a<3

(1) a > 2, Insufficient
(2) \(a^2 < 9\) =>\( -3<a<3\) => Sufficient

Ans B
avatar
TarunKumar1234
Joined: 14 Jul 2020
Last visit: 28 Feb 2024
Posts: 1,103
Own Kudos:
1,357
 [1]
Given Kudos: 351
Location: India
Posts: 1,103
Kudos: 1,357
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
3, 8, a, 17, b

If b = 3a, is the average (arithmetic mean) of the five terms in the list above less than 8?

\(\frac{(3+8+a+17+b)}{5}\) < 8 or, 28 +4b < 40 or, a <3

Stat1: a > 2; not sufficient
Stat2: a^2 < 9
-3 < a < 3. Sufficient

So, I think B. :)
User avatar
Vijaisai44
Joined: 21 Apr 2019
Last visit: 11 Jun 2025
Posts: 3
Own Kudos:
1
 [1]
Given Kudos: 56
Posts: 3
Kudos: 1
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
before reading the statements, we get

(a+3+17+8+3a)/5 < 8

Solving the above equation:

a<5, which means a must be lesser than 5 for the above inequality to be true.

St.1 a>2
a = 3,4,5,6....10....20

a is both lesser and greater than 5. Thereby the statement is insufficient.

St.2 a^2 <9

|a| < 3
-3<a<3
Thereby the statement is sufficient.

ANS B
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,941
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,941
Kudos: 1,116
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109715 posts
498 posts
210 posts