16Hit1600
AlgebraHardMinimum score for a target average

Algebra practice question

A student's scores on three tests are 72, 85 and 79. What is the least score the student can get on a fourth test so that the average of the four tests is at least 80?

Answer: 84

An average of at least 80 over four tests needs a total of at least 320. The three scores total 236, so the fourth must be at least 320 − 236 = 84.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 79
79 is the mean of the first three tests (236/3 ≈ 78.7 rounded), not the score needed.
If you answered 80
80 would give a total of 316 and an average of 79, just short.
If you answered 324
324 is 80 × 4 + 4 or a similar slip; the needed total is 320, and 320 − 236 = 84.

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