GRE Math : Data Analysis

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #26 : Arithmetic Mean

Which statement is true assuming that a represents the range, b represents the mean, c represents the median, and d represents the mode.

Which sequence is correct for the number set: 51, 8, 51, 17, 102, 31, 20

Possible Answers:

b < d < c < a

d < c < a < b

c < a < d < b

a < b < d < c

c < b < d < a

Correct answer:

c < b < d < a

Explanation:

The answer is c < b < d < a.

When we arrange the number set we see: 8, 17, 20, 31, 51, 51, 102

a = range = 94

b = mean = 40

c = median = 31

d = mode = 51

median < mean < mode < range so c < b < d < a

Example Question #27 : Arithmetic Mean

Jim got scores of 84, 78, 92, and 89 on the first four exams in his math class. What must he get on the fifth exam to have an average score of 88 for all five exams?

Possible Answers:

95

91

99

97

93

Correct answer:

97

Explanation:

Write out the average formula, with x representing the fifth score, and filling in 88 as the average score we want.

\displaystyle \frac{84+78+92+89+x}{5}=88

Then isolate and solve for x.

\displaystyle \frac{343+x}{5}=88

\displaystyle 343+x=440

 \displaystyle x=97

Example Question #121 : Data Analysis

If the average of \displaystyle a and \displaystyle bis 70, and the average of \displaystyle b and \displaystyle c is 110, what is the value of \displaystyle c-a?

Possible Answers:

80

70

40

90

150

Correct answer:

80

Explanation:

If the average of \displaystyle a and \displaystyle b is 70, then their sum is 140.

\displaystyle average=\frac{a+b}{2}=70

\displaystyle a+b=140

Likewise, if the average of b and c is 110, then their sum must be 220.

\displaystyle average=\frac{b+c}{2}=110

\displaystyle b+c=220

\displaystyle (b+c)-(a+b)=c-a

\displaystyle 220-140=c-a=80

Example Question #122 : Data Analysis

The average of 10 test scores is 120 and the average of 30 additional scores is 100.

Quantity A: The weighted average of these scores

Quantity B: 105

Possible Answers:

Quantity A is greater

The two quantities are equal

The relationship cannot be determined from the information given

Quantity B is greater

Correct answer:

The two quantities are equal

Explanation:

The sum of the first ten scores is 1,200 and the sum of the next 30 scores is 3,000. To take the weighted average of all scores, divide the sum of all scores (4,200) by the total number of scores (40), which would equal 105.

Example Question #123 : Data Analysis

A plane flies from San Francisco to New York City at 600 miles per hour and returns along the same route at 400 miles per hour. What is the average flying speed for the entire route (in miles per hour)?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 460

\displaystyle 540

\displaystyle 500

\displaystyle 550

\displaystyle 480

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 480

Explanation:

First, pick a distance, preferably one that is divisible by 400 and 600. As an example, we will use 1,200. If the distance is 1,200, then it took 2 hours to get to New York City and 3 hours to get back to San Francisco. So, the plane traveled 2,400 miles in 5 hours. The average speed is simply 2,400 miles divided by 5 hours, which is 480 miles per hour.

Example Question #124 : Data Analysis

\displaystyle \left \{ 20, 35, 7, 12, 73, 12, 18, 31\right \}

Column A: The median of the set

Column B: The mean of the set

Possible Answers:

Column A is greater.

Column B is greater.

Columns A and B are equal.

Cannot be determined.

Correct answer:

Column B is greater.

Explanation:

The median is the middle number of the data set. If there is an even number of quantities in the data set, take the average of the middle two numbers.

Here, there are 8 numbers, so (18 + 20)/2 = 19. 

The mean, or average, is the sum of the integers divided by number of integers in the set: (20 + 35 + 7 + 12 + 73 + 12 + 18 + 31) / 8 = 26

Example Question #44 : Statistics

If the average (arithmetic mean) of \displaystyle x, \displaystyle y, and \displaystyle 9 is \displaystyle 12, what is the average of \displaystyle x+2, \displaystyle y-6, and \displaystyle 10?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 9

\displaystyle 11

\displaystyle 12

There is not enough information to determine the answer.

\displaystyle 10

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 11

Explanation:

If we can find the sum of \dpi{100} \small x+2, \dpi{100} \small y-6, and 10, we can determine their average. There is not enough information to solve for \dpi{100} \small x or \dpi{100} \small y individually, but we can find their sum, \dpi{100} \small x+y

Write out the average formula for the original three quantities.  Remember, adding together and dividing by the number of quantities gives the average: \frac{x + y + 9}{3} = 12\displaystyle \frac{x + y + 9}{3} = 12

Isolate \dpi{100} \small x+y

x + y + 9 = 36\displaystyle x + y + 9 = 36

x + y = 27\displaystyle x + y = 27

 

Write out the average formula for the new three quantities: 

\frac{x + 2 + y - 6 + 10}{3} = ?\displaystyle \frac{x + 2 + y - 6 + 10}{3} = ?

Combine the integers in the numerator:

\frac{x + y + 6}{3} = ?\displaystyle \frac{x + y + 6}{3} = ?

Replace \dpi{100} \small x+y with 27:

\frac{27+ 6}{3} = \frac{33}{3} = 11\displaystyle \frac{27+ 6}{3} = \frac{33}{3} = 11

Example Question #125 : Data Analysis

The arithmetic mean of a, b, and c is \displaystyle 13

Quantity A: The arithmetic mean of \displaystyle 2a+b,b+3c,39-c

Quantity B: \displaystyle 39

Possible Answers:

Quantity B is greater.

The relationship cannot be established.

Quantity A is greater.

The two quantities are equal.

Correct answer:

The two quantities are equal.

Explanation:

To solve this problem, calculate Quantity A.

The arithmetic mean for a set of values is the sum of these values divided by the total number of values:

\displaystyle \frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^n x_i

For the set \displaystyle 2a+b,b+3c,39-c, the mean is

\displaystyle \frac{(2a+b)+(b+3c)+(39-c)}{3}

\displaystyle \frac{2a+2b+2c+39}{3}

\displaystyle \frac{2a+2b+2c}{3}+13

Now recall that we're told that arithmetic mean of a, b, and c is \displaystyle 13, i.e.

\displaystyle \frac{a+b+c}{3}=13

Using this fact, return to what we've written for Quantity A:

\displaystyle 2(\frac{a+b+c}{3})+13

\displaystyle 2(13)+13

\displaystyle 39

Quantity B is also \displaystyle 39

So the two quantities are equal.

Example Question #42 : Statistics

The arithmetic mean of a and b is \displaystyle 5

Quantity A: \displaystyle a^3+3a^2b+3ab^2+b^3

Quantity B: \displaystyle 125

Possible Answers:

Quantity A is greater.

The two quantities are equal.

Quantity B is greater.

The relationship cannot be established.

Correct answer:

Quantity A is greater.

Explanation:

The key to this problem is to recognize that Quantity A can be rewritten.

The function \displaystyle a^3+3a^2b+3ab^2+b^3

can be written as

\displaystyle (a+b)^3

Now, recall what we're told about the mean of a and b, namely that it equals \displaystyle 5.

This is equivalent to saying

\displaystyle \frac{a+b}{2}=5

From this, we can see that

\displaystyle a+b=10

Therefore, we can find a value for Quantity A:

\displaystyle 10^3

\displaystyle 1000

Quantity A is greater.

Example Question #126 : Data Analysis

Looking at all the multiples of 5 from 5 to 50, what is the mean of all of those values?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 27

\displaystyle 25

\displaystyle 30

\displaystyle 28

\displaystyle 27.5

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 27.5

Explanation:

All of the multiples of 5 from 5 to 50 are 

\displaystyle 5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50.  

The total of all of them is 275.  

Then the mean will be 27.5 

.

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