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The arithmetic mean (average) of the numbers a and b is 17.
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11 Apr 2019, 16:22
11 Apr 2019, 16:22
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The arithmetic mean (average) of the numbers a and b is 17. The geometric mean of the numbers a and b is 8.
A)The quantity in Column A is greater.
B)The quantity in Column B is greater.
C)The two quantities are equal.
D)The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
Quantity A |
Quantity B |
a |
b |
A)The quantity in Column A is greater.
B)The quantity in Column B is greater.
C)The two quantities are equal.
D)The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
Re: The arithmetic mean (average) of the numbers a and b is 17.
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13 Apr 2019, 03:09
13 Apr 2019, 03:09
1
Expert Reply
I don't think geometric mean will be on the GRE. So that's a clue to not even try to calculate it or use algebra here.
We are not told anything at all about a and b. They could be positive or negative, integers or not. We're only given means of a and b, but no information at all about which one is bigger. So it's impossible for one to be bigger. If it could be true that a = 9 and b = 7, then it could also be true that a = 7 and b = 9.
There is a chance that they are equal. But checking that would require some knowledge of geometric mean, which the test won't require. So we can safely assume that D is the answer.
We are not told anything at all about a and b. They could be positive or negative, integers or not. We're only given means of a and b, but no information at all about which one is bigger. So it's impossible for one to be bigger. If it could be true that a = 9 and b = 7, then it could also be true that a = 7 and b = 9.
There is a chance that they are equal. But checking that would require some knowledge of geometric mean, which the test won't require. So we can safely assume that D is the answer.
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Re: The arithmetic mean (average) of the numbers a and b is 17.
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04 Jan 2021, 09:12
04 Jan 2021, 09:12
1
I agree with the above poster; geometric mean is not tested on the GRE.
If the official test-makers were to create a question involving geometric mean, they would define the term for you.
If the official test-makers were to create a question involving geometric mean, they would define the term for you.
