The Average (Arithmetic Mean) Score of x Students on a Certain Exam is 81 GMAT Problem Solving

Question: The average (arithmetic mean) score of x students on a certain exam is 81. If one additional student takes the exam and scores a 99, the average score will increase to 83. What is the value of x?

  1. 7
  2. 8
  3. 9
  4. 10
  5. 11

Correct Answer: B

Solution and Explanation:
Approach Solution 1:

Given:

  • The arithmetic mean score of x students on a certain exam is 81.

Condition:

  • If one additional student takes the exam and scores a 99, the average score will increase to 83.

Find Out:

  • The value of x

The average (arithmetic mean) score of x students on a certain exam is 81
Therefore, there exists one possibility that each of the x students received a score of 81.
Hence, the total sum of all x scores = 81x

If one additional student takes the exam and scores a 99, we then have x + 1 scores
Also, the total sum of all x +1 scores = 81x + 99

Since the new average is 83, therefore, we can write: (81x + 99)/(x + 1) = 83
By multiplying both sides by (x+1), we get: 81x + 99 = 83(x + 1)
Expand: 81x + 99 = 83x + 83
Rearrange: 16 = 2x
Therefore, x = 8

Approach Solution 2:
Given:

  • The arithmetic mean score of x students on a certain exam is 81.

Condition:

  • If one additional student takes the exam and scores a 99, the average score will increase to 83.

Find Out:

  • The value of x.

As per the problem statement, the initial average is 81
The final average is 83.

Hence, the increase in average =83-81
= 2 marks/student.

Now, one additional new student scored 99
We find the marks above average = 99 - 83 = 16.

Hence x or the number of initial students = 16/2 = 8.

Approach Solution 3:
The problem statement states that:
Given:

  • The arithmetic mean score of x students on a certain exam is 81.

Condition:

  • If one additional student takes the exam and scores a 99, the average score will increase to 83.

Find Out:

  • The value of x.

As per the given condition in the question, we can say:

81x + 99 = (x + 1 ) 83
Or, 81x + 99 = 83x + 83
Or, 16 = 2x
Or, x = 8

Hence, the number of initial students = 8.

“The average (arithmetic mean) score of x students on a certain exam is”- is a topic of the GMAT Quantitative reasoning section of the GMAT exam. This topic has been taken from the book “501 GMAT Questions”. The GMAT Problem Solving questions test the capability of the candidate’s skills in calculating numerical problems accurately. GMAT Quant practice papers enable the candidates to practice varieties of questions that will boost their confidence to score better in the exam.

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