16Hit1600
Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisVery hardValue removed from a data set

Problem-Solving and Data Analysis practice question

The mean of 8 test scores is 70. When the lowest score is removed, the mean of the remaining 7 scores is 74. What was the removed score?

Answer: 42

Total of 8 scores: 8 × 70 = 560. Total of the remaining 7: 7 × 74 = 518. The removed score is 560 − 518 = 42.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 4
4 is the change in the mean (74 − 70), not the score that was removed.
If you answered 28
28 is 4 × 7, the amount by which the remaining scores exceed the old mean in total; the removed score is 70 − 28 = 42.
If you answered 66
66 is 70 − 4, subtracting the mean's change from the old mean. Use the totals: 560 − 518.

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