Last visit was: 16 Jul 2025, 01:44 It is currently 16 Jul 2025, 01:44
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
sara86
Joined: 15 Dec 2015
Last visit: 05 Apr 2016
Posts: 23
Own Kudos:
50
 [14]
Posts: 23
Kudos: 50
 [14]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
13
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
chetan2u
User avatar
GMAT Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Last visit: 15 Jul 2025
Posts: 11,294
Own Kudos:
41,766
 [4]
Given Kudos: 333
Status:Math and DI Expert
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 11,294
Kudos: 41,766
 [4]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 16 Jul 2025
Posts: 16,111
Own Kudos:
74,348
 [3]
Given Kudos: 475
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,111
Kudos: 74,348
 [3]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 16 Jul 2025
Posts: 102,591
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 98,202
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 102,591
Kudos: 741,780
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sara86
Which of the following cannot be the median of five positive integers a, b, c, d, and e?

(A) a

(B) d + e

(C) b + c + d

(D) (b + c + d) / 3

(E) (a + b + c + d + e) / 5


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Similar questions to practice:
which-of-the-following-cannot-be-the-median-of-the-2436.html
which-of-the-following-cannot-be-the-median-of-the-four-cons-84440.html
User avatar
Kimberly77
Joined: 16 Nov 2021
Last visit: 07 Sep 2024
Posts: 440
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 5,899
Location: United Kingdom
GMAT 1: 450 Q42 V34
Products:
GMAT 1: 450 Q42 V34
Posts: 440
Kudos: 42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
KarishmaB
sara86
Which of the following cannot be the median of five positive integers a, b, c, d, and e?

(A) a

(B) d + e

(C) b + c + d

(D) (b + c + d) / 3

(E) (a + b + c + d + e) / 5


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Note that you are not given that the numbers are arranged in ascending order. They could be any way when arranged in ascending order. Keeping this in mind, try to find easy ways of getting the median.

(A) a
a could be the middle number

(B) d + e
Middle number could be other than d and e and d and e could be the numbers smaller than the middle numbers e.g.
1 , 1, 2, 2, 2
- Median is 2 which is 1 + 1

(D) (b + c + d) / 3
Avg of 3 numbers can certainly be the median - say all numbers are equal: 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 - median is 2 - avg of any 3 numbers

(E) (a + b + c + d + e) / 5
Avg of all 5 numbers can certainly be the median - say all numbers are equal: 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 - median is 2 - avg of all 5 numbers

(C) b + c + d
Now, you don't need to worry about (C) and you can just mark it but note why it cannot be the median.
Out of 5 positive numbers, median will be the middle number. b , c or d cannot be the middle number. So either a or e will be the median. Two numbers will be smaller than (or equal to) the median and two numbers will be greater (or equal to). So even if you pick both numbers which are smaller than the median, you will still need to pick one which is equal or greater. So sum of 3 numbers will certainly be greater than the median.

Answer (C)

Great explanation KarishmaB
To clarify doesn't "median" mean numbers are arranged in ascending order?
So when can we assume that numbers are in ascending order and when we can't?
Could you kindly help clarify? Thanks
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 16 Jul 2025
Posts: 16,111
Own Kudos:
74,348
 [1]
Given Kudos: 475
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,111
Kudos: 74,348
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Kimberly77
KarishmaB
sara86
Which of the following cannot be the median of five positive integers a, b, c, d, and e?

(A) a

(B) d + e

(C) b + c + d

(D) (b + c + d) / 3

(E) (a + b + c + d + e) / 5


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Note that you are not given that the numbers are arranged in ascending order. They could be any way when arranged in ascending order. Keeping this in mind, try to find easy ways of getting the median.

(A) a
a could be the middle number

(B) d + e
Middle number could be other than d and e and d and e could be the numbers smaller than the middle numbers e.g.
1 , 1, 2, 2, 2
- Median is 2 which is 1 + 1

(D) (b + c + d) / 3
Avg of 3 numbers can certainly be the median - say all numbers are equal: 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 - median is 2 - avg of any 3 numbers

(E) (a + b + c + d + e) / 5
Avg of all 5 numbers can certainly be the median - say all numbers are equal: 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 - median is 2 - avg of all 5 numbers

(C) b + c + d
Now, you don't need to worry about (C) and you can just mark it but note why it cannot be the median.
Out of 5 positive numbers, median will be the middle number. b , c or d cannot be the middle number. So either a or e will be the median. Two numbers will be smaller than (or equal to) the median and two numbers will be greater (or equal to). So even if you pick both numbers which are smaller than the median, you will still need to pick one which is equal or greater. So sum of 3 numbers will certainly be greater than the median.

Answer (C)

Great explanation KarishmaB
To clarify doesn't "median" mean numbers are arranged in ascending order?
So when can we assume that numbers are in ascending order and when we can't?
Could you kindly help clarify? Thanks

If it is not mentioned that the numbers are in ascending order, we cannot assume that they are.
We are supposed to arrange them in ascending order when trying to find the median.

Say, these are all valid:
Median of 1, 5, 2, 8, 10 is 5 - Correct.
Median of 5, 2, 1, 8, 10 is 5 - Correct.
Median of 1, 2, 5, 8, 10 is 5 - Also Correct.

They are not required to give us a list of numbers in ascending order only because they are asking or giving the median. The list could be in any order. It is up to us to arrange before finding the median.
User avatar
Kimberly77
Joined: 16 Nov 2021
Last visit: 07 Sep 2024
Posts: 440
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 5,899
Location: United Kingdom
GMAT 1: 450 Q42 V34
Products:
GMAT 1: 450 Q42 V34
Posts: 440
Kudos: 42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Great explanation always, thanks KarishmaB :please:
Moderators:
Math Expert
102591 posts
PS Forum Moderator
695 posts