MathRevolution
[GMAT math practice question]
There are \(1\) card written ‘\(1\)’, \(2\) cards written ‘\(2\)’, …, and \(n\) cards written ‘\(n\)’. The average of all the numbers written on the cards is \(17\). How many cards are there? (Use the fact : \(1 + 2 + … + n = \frac{n(n+1)}{2}, 1^2 + 2^2 + … + n^2 = \frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}\))
A. \(25\)
B. \(125\)
C. \(225\)
D. \(325\)
E. \(425\)
Formula
Number of cards = 1 of 1 + 2 of 2 + 3 of 3+......+ n of n = \(1+2+3+...+n=\frac{n(n+1)}{2}\)
Sum of all cards = \(1*1+2*2+3*3+...n*n=1^2+2^2+3^2+...+n^2=\frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}\)
Now \(Average*Number_ of_ cards=Sum_ of_ all_ cards..........17*\frac{n(n+1)}{2}=\frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}=\frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{2*3}........17=\frac{2n+1}{3}......51=2n+1.......n=25\)
Number of cards = \(\frac{n(n+1)}{2}=\frac{25*26}{2}=325\)
Use choices
If you know that the Number of cards = \(1+2+3+...+n=\frac{n(n+1)}{2}\), then our answer*2 should be equal to n(n+1), that is sum of consecutive integers.
Let us check choices
A. \(25\), so 25*2=5*5*2..We cannot form this as a product of consecutive integers.
B. \(125\), so 125*2=5*5*5*2..We cannot form this as a product of consecutive integers.
C. \(225\), so 225*2=5*5*3*3=15*15....We cannot form this as a product of consecutive integers.
D. \(325\), so 325*2=5*5*13*2=25*26..YES
E. \(425\), so 425*2=5*5*17*2..We cannot form this as a product of consecutive integers.
D