For the list of numbers above, which of the following could be the ran

Question

2, 12, -5, 20, x, y

For the list of numbers above, which of the following could be the range?

I. -25

II. 22

III. 32

A. I only
B. II only
C. III only
D. II and III
E. I, II, and III

quantumliner · Accepted Answer

Listing the numbers in order ( as we do not know the values of x and y, they have been placed at the end for now)

-5, 2, 12, 20,x,y

Let's consider that x and y are not part of the above list. Then the Range of the above list becomes 20 - (-5) = 25. Now depending upon the values of x and y the Range of the list can either be more than 25 or be 25.

Let's see the options.

1. -25. As Range is always positive, this option is out.

2. 22. As shown above, that the minimum range will be 25. This option is out.

3. 32. This could be a possible range.

Answer is C. III only

Leo8 · Answer

FullSizeRender (13).jpg My take: C

pushpitkc · Answer

Since we are given 4 numbers (2, 12, -5, 20) the range of these numbers are 25(20-(-5)) 
So, whatever the value we assume for both x and y, we cannot have 22 as a range.
However if we assume -12 as a value for x, we can have the range 32.
-25 as a range is also not possible for the same reason(i.e we can't have a range lesser than 25) (Option C)

vishalkumar4mba · Answer

Why minimum range will be 20. We can place X & Y anywhere in the list. say X = 10 and Y = 24 Range = 24-2 = 22 ??

quantumliner · Answer

vishalkumar4mba

I have said the minimum Range will be 25 not 20.

In the example you have given -> X = 10 and Y = 24 , the list will look like -5, 2, 10, 12, 20, 24. So the Range will be 24 - (-5) = 29

So no matter what value of x or y is taken, the Range will be greater than equal to 25

jabhatta2 · Answer

Bunuel   VeritasKarishma

Are my take-away's from this problem accurate

a) Range can NEVER be negative

b) the Range in this list HAS to be >= 25

Bunuel · Answer

_____________________________
1. Correct
2. Correct

DonBosco7 · Answer

As  jabhatta2  accurately put it,
1] Range can never be -ve, it is always greater than or equal to 0. Given this fact I is out.
2] If Range = 22 as option II says, then we know
 -> Range = greatest - least
 -> 22 = G - L .......... least in the set in -5
 -> 22 = G - (-5)
 -> G = 17 .......... which cannot be the greatest since there is 20 in the list which is greater than 17, Hence II is out too.
3] If Range = 32
 -> Range = G - L
 -> 32 = G - (-5)
 -> G = 27 ....... totally possible
Hence C

For the list of numbers above, which of the following could be the ran

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GMAT Problem Solving (PS) Questions

For the list of numbers above, which of the following could be the ran

Prep Toolkit

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