Last visit was: 22 Apr 2026, 17:33 It is currently 22 Apr 2026, 17:33
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
Raxit85
Joined: 22 Feb 2018
Last visit: 02 Aug 2025
Posts: 761
Own Kudos:
1,202
 [9]
Given Kudos: 135
Posts: 761
Kudos: 1,202
 [9]
Kudos
Add Kudos
8
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
IanStewart
User avatar
GMAT Tutor
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Last visit: 17 Apr 2026
Posts: 4,143
Own Kudos:
11,270
 [1]
Given Kudos: 99
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 4,143
Kudos: 11,270
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
avatar
Anulitha
Joined: 08 Dec 2019
Last visit: 11 Aug 2020
Posts: 9
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 18
Posts: 9
Kudos: 4
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
ConfusedSEA
Joined: 20 Aug 2019
Last visit: 25 Jun 2021
Posts: 30
Own Kudos:
44
 [2]
Given Kudos: 66
Location: Malaysia
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
GMAT 1: 630 Q40 V36
GPA: 4
GMAT 1: 630 Q40 V36
Posts: 30
Kudos: 44
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Important theory: The mean = median if in any arithmetic progression.

(1) At least 140 students scored less than average
Median is the 126th term. Since at least the 140th term is less than average, Median < Average.

(2) Sum of all the scores is 360 times Median score
Median < Average
User avatar
pierjoejoe
Joined: 30 Jul 2024
Last visit: 29 Jul 2025
Posts: 126
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 425
Location: Italy
Concentration: Accounting, Finance
GMAT Focus 1: 645 Q84 V84 DI78
GPA: 4
WE:Research (Technology)
GMAT Focus 1: 645 Q84 V84 DI78
Posts: 126
Kudos: 57
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
the median is the 125th term + 126th term divided by 2
the average is the sum of all terms divided by 250

(1) more than 140 students have scored less than average. this means that less than 110 students scored more than average.
the distribution will look something like this:
less than average | more than average
at least 140 | less than 110 students

less than average more than or equal to average
frequency more than 140less than 110

minimum --------> average --------> maximum
from minimum to average there are more than 140 people
from average to maximum there are less than 110 people
Given that the 125th and 126th terms MUST be both in the range from "0" to AVERAGE (because there are AT LEAST 140 people below average)
than we can conclude that the median MUST be less than average
(SUFFICIENT)
(2) this is telling us the relationship between median and average (SUFFICIENT)
User avatar
vektr
Joined: 04 Jul 2024
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 12
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 16
GMAT Focus 1: 645 Q87 V80 DI78
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q82 V84 DI80
Products:
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q82 V84 DI80
Posts: 12
Kudos: 3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
So, we are given 140 students are below the average score.


The median is supposedly middle value when arranging all the numbers in ascending/descending order.
And we know there are total 250 people.

=> If we align them on ascending/descending order, median would be mean of 125th & 126th students.

Therefore, 125th & 126th students have to have score below mean (infact till 140th student everyone will have score below average score).

So we know Mean > Median
Anulitha
I get how 2 answers the problem (average is greater than median) but how does 1 explain it?

Posted from my mobile device
Moderators:
Math Expert
109754 posts
498 posts
212 posts