mehrdadvlc wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
A list is comprised of five positive integers: 4, 4, x, 7, y. What is the range of the possible values of the medians?
(A) 2
(B) 3
(C) 6
(D) 7
(E) Cannot be determined by information provided.
Kudos for correct solution.
Ok we do not know the values for x and y. Therefore, we can say:
4 4 x 7 y. Median is X
4 4 y 7 x. Median is y
x y 4 4 7. Median is 4
4 4 7 x y. Median is 7
The answer is E since we do not know the values of x and y.
We cannot assume that x and y are higher or lesser than other values.
I answered E first and was confused too. Think of it this way though -- if x and y are between 4 and 7 like you said, the only possible values of x/y would be 4,5,6,7. They ask the range between possible medians. So even if x =5 and y = 6, the range is still 7-4 = 3.