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Bunuel
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Incorrect sum of terms: 300
Sum of terms with correct values: 350

The sum of terms increased by 50. Since the correct value was 80, and the sum of terms increased by 50, the incorrect value must be 30.
D
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Bunuel
In a set of 5 measurements with an average (arithmetic mean) of 60, one of the measurements is found to be incorrect. If this measurement is replaced by its correct value of 80, then the average of the resulting set is 70. What is the value of the incorrect measurement?

A. 10
B. 20
C. 25
D. 30
E. 50
­Use the concept of deviations from the mean. The correct value of 80 raises the average of the 5 numbers by 10 (from 60 to 70). It means the corerct value added 10*5 = 50 to the sum. So the incorrect value used before must have been 80 - 50 = 30

Answer (D)

Check this video for discussion on averages: 
https://youtu.be/W-qhIZ29UIs
 
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Bunuel
In a set of 5 measurements with an average (arithmetic mean) of 60, one of the measurements is found to be incorrect. If this measurement is replaced by its correct value of 80, then the average of the resulting set is 70. What is the value of the incorrect measurement?

A. 10
B. 20
C. 25
D. 30
E. 50

Initially, if we were to figure out the total of the measurements (with the incorrect value), you'd get 5 x 60 = 300

We now know that correct total (if the incorrect measurement is replaced by its correct value) is 5 x 70 = 350

Basically, we can see that replacing the incorrect measurement with "80" increased the total measurement value by 50.

This means the "incorrect measurement" must have been 80 - 50 = 30

(D) is your answer.
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Are you able to explain the logic behind this? Why is it not just the total sum difference of 50?
GmatKnightTutor
Bunuel
In a set of 5 measurements with an average (arithmetic mean) of 60, one of the measurements is found to be incorrect. If this measurement is replaced by its correct value of 80, then the average of the resulting set is 70. What is the value of the incorrect measurement?

A. 10
B. 20
C. 25
D. 30
E. 50

Initially, if we were to figure out the total of the measurements (with the incorrect value), you'd get 5 x 60 = 300

We now know that correct total (if the incorrect measurement is replaced by its correct value) is 5 x 70 = 350

Basically, we can see that replacing the incorrect measurement with "80" increased the total measurement value by 50.

This means the "incorrect measurement" must have been 80 - 50 = 30

(D) is your answer.
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