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Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisMediumMissing value from a known mean

Problem-Solving and Data Analysis practice question

The mean of five test scores is 80. Four of the scores are 72, 85, 78, and 90. What is the fifth score?

Answer: 75

The five scores total 5 × 80 = 400. The four given total 325, so the fifth is 400 − 325 = 75.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 80
80 assumes the fifth score equals the mean, but the other four average 81.25.
If you answered 325
325 is the total of the four given scores.
If you answered 81.25
81.25 is the mean of the four given scores.

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