The table below shows the distribution of test scores for a group of management trainees. Which score interval contains the median of the 73 scores?

The table below shows the distribution of test scores for a group of management trainees. Which score interval contains the median of the 73 scores?

SCORE INTERVAL—————-NUMBER OF SCORES

50-59————————– 2
60-69————————–10
70-79————————–16
80-89————————–27
90-99————————–18

(A) 60-69
(B) 70-79
(C) 80-89
(D) 90-99
(E) It cannot be determined from the information given.

Know your basic GMAT quant stone cold! What’s median? The middle value of a set. 2, 5, 8, 100, 12200. The median is….8. If the set has an even number of numbers the median is the average of the two middle numbers.

Ok, so. For the above question we need to identify which score interval has the median of the 73 scores. Well, what’s the median score in a set of 73 values??? Divide 73 by 2. 36.5. Ok. Basically you have 36 on one side and 36 on the other. That’s 72 numbers. And then 1 number in the middle (the median). So the median is the 37th number.

Let’s find where that is in the score intervals table:

Just start from the bottom of the table (50-59) and start adding up the number of scores until you reach 37.

2 + 10 + 16 = 28

Then 80-89 has 27 more scores so clearly the 37th score will fall there.

Correct Answer: C

Additional GMAT Statistics Example Questions!

Here’s a GMAT statistics example (median/range) that will teach you how to work with multiple unknowns. Also a good question to work on the concept of maximizing a value.

A set of 15 different integers has median of 25 and a range of 25. What is greatest possible integer that could be in this set?

Here’s a little statistics puzzle from the GMAT Official Guide. It has an easy-ish solution. Still, it’s surprising how often it comes up in GMAT tutoring sessions.

If Q is an odd number and the median of Q consecutive integers is 120, what is the largest of these integers?

Here’s a challenging statistics, max/min question which we review during just about every GMAT preparation. it’s an important one to master not only to understand how to organize a whole bunch of potential variables but to understand how to put context on a max/min scenario.

Seven pieces of rope have an average (arithmetic mean) length of 68 centimeters and a median length of 84 centimeters. If the length of the longest piece of rope is 14 centimeters more than 4 times the length of the shortest piece of rope, what is the maximum possible length, in centimeters, of the longest piece of rope?

Great one to wrap your head around statistics concepts and how they can be tested on the GMAT. It’s a problem solving question but having this square will also help you on DS statistics questions.

Last month 15 homes were sold in Town X. The average (arithmetic mean) sale price of the homes was $150,000 and the median sale price was $130,000. Which of the following statements must be true?

Middle difficulty Data Sufficiency statistics range question from GMAT question of the day

And here’s a very challenging GMAT statistics range question from GMAT question of the day that also incorporates a bunch of algebra and number properties. Stay organized!

Good luck and happy studies!