The range of the elements in list A is 17 while the range of the

Question

The range of the elements in list A is 17 while the range of the elements in list B is 20. Lists A and B are merged to form list C. What is the least possible range of the elements in list C?

A. 3
B. 17
C. 20
D. 37
E. More than 37

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Ayeka · Answer

Range of list A= 17
Range of list B= 20
List A & List B are merged to form list C. So,the range of list C cannot be less than the larger range of the two lists (A & B)
Since list B has range 20, the least possible range of list C is 20.

C

HK12! · Answer

Since list C contains all elements of list B & A, the new range of C has to be at least as large as the largest individual range involved. As all elements from both lists are now available.

=>To minimize the range of List C, we assume List A's values fall entirely within the span of List B's values

In this scenario, the overall minimum and maximum of the merged set remain defined by List B.
Least possible range = 20 
So, Option C is the correct answer.

Adit_ · Answer

Min(range(list(A,B))) = Max(range(A,B)) = 20

Answer:  Option C

chloreton · Answer

Consider A has 0 and 17
B has 0 and 20.

Therefore C has 0,0,17,20.
Range = 20 - 0 = 20.

C

sequimaxime · Answer

The min max range questions are generally easy , To answer these type of questions,
Follow the simple methond:
If Set A has range P and Set B has range Q 
(P>=Q)
To get the MIN of range = Max of range in Set A and Set B = MAX(P,Q) = P
To get the MAX of range = P-Q
Hence,
The answer of this question is 20

egmat · Answer

Great question! Let's break this down step by step.

The range of a list  is simply:  Largest value - Smallest value .

List A has a range of  17 , and List B has a range of  20 . When we merge them into List C, the range of C depends on how the two lists overlap on the number line.

Key Insight:  To MINIMIZE the range of C, we want to NEST the smaller list completely inside the larger list.

Imagine List B spans from  0  to  20  (range =  20 ). Now place List A so it fits entirely inside B — say A spans from  1  to  18  (range =  17 ).

When merged: 
- The smallest value in C is still  0  (from B)
- The largest value in C is still  20  (from B)
- Range of C =  20  -  0  =  20

Since A is completely contained within B, A doesn't push the minimum lower or the maximum higher. So C's range stays at  20 .

Could the range be less than  20 ?  No! List B alone already has a range of  20 , and all of B's elements are in C. So C's range can never be less than  20 .

Could the range be more than  20 ?  Yes, if the lists don't overlap well. For example, if A spans from  25  to  42 , the combined range would be  42  -  0  =  42 . But the question asks for the LEAST possible range.

General principle:  When merging two lists, the minimum possible range of the combined list equals the LARGER of the two individual ranges, because you can always nest the smaller-range list inside the larger one.

Since the larger individual range is  20 , the least possible range of the combined list is  20 .

Answer: C

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

C is the correct answer choice.  
 
  Video explanation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsqR5b2_u6c

The range of the elements in list A is 17 while the range of the

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