16Hit1600
Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisVery hardValue that raises a mean

Problem-Solving and Data Analysis practice question

A list of 7 numbers has a mean of 12. When an eighth number is added to the list, the mean of the 8 numbers is 13. What is the eighth number?

Answer: 20

The 7 numbers total 84; the 8 numbers total 104. The eighth is 104 − 84 = 20.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 1
1 is the change in the mean, not the number added.
If you answered 8
8 adds 1 to 7, confusing counts with values.
If you answered 13
13 assumes the new number equals the new mean; it must be higher to pull the mean up.

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