GRE Bootcamp: Averages Practice

Question 1

If the range of the six numbers 4, 3, 14, 7, 10 and x is 12, what is the difference between the greatest
and least possible values of x?

a) 0
b) 2
c) 12
d) 13
e) 15

Question 2

The sum of the weekly salaries of 5 employees is $3250. If each of the 5 salaries is to increase by 10
percent, then the average (mean) weekly salary per employee will increase by

a) $52.50
b) $55.00
c) $57.50
d) $62.50
e) $65.00

Question 3

For the positive numbers: x, x + 1, x + 2, x + 4 and x + 8, the mean is how much greater than the
median?

a) O
b) 1
c) n+1
d) n+2
e) n+3

Question 4

At a certain fruit stand, the price of each apple is 40 cents and the price of each orange is 60 cents.
Emily selects a total of 10 apples and oranges from the fruit stand, and the average (mean) price of the
10 pieces of fruit is 56 cents. How many oranges must Emily put back so that the average price of the
fruit she keeps is 52 cents?

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
e) 5
Question 5

In a bodega in New York, the average (mean) revenue was $400 per day over a 10 day period. During
this time, if the average daily revenue was $360 for the first 6 days, what was the average daily revenue
for the last 4 days?

a) $420
b) $440
c) $450
d) $460
e) $480

Question 6

Seven pieces of copper pipe have an average (mean) length of 68 inches and a median length of 84
inches. If the length of the longest pipe is 14 inches more than 4 times the length of the shortest pipe,
what is the maximum possible length, in inches, of the longest pipe?

a) 82
b) 118
c) 120
d) 134
e) 152

Question 7

For the past n days, the average (mean) daily production at a company was 50 units. If today’s
production of 90 units raises the average to 55 units per day, what is the value of n?

a) 30
b) 18
c) 10
d) 9
e) 7

Question 8

The mean of the list of numbers: 3, k, 2, 8, m, 3 is 4. If k and m are integers and k does not equal m,
then what is the median of the list?

a) 2
b) 2.5
c) 3
d) 3.5
e) 4
Question 9

Daily temperatures: 61, 86, 112, 123, 122, 136, 110, 130, 110, 105, 115, 96, 124

The above data set reflects the daily temperature readings that researchers recorded at a green house
over a 13 days period. The mean temperature was 110 degrees Fahrenheit. After reviewing the data the
researchers discovered an error. The first temperature in the set was entered 26 degrees too low. After
correcting the error how many degrees from the original mean temperature is the corrected mean
temperature?

a) 0
b) 1
c) 2
d) 4
e) 6

Question 10

The average (mean) length per movie for the 21 movies in a film festival is t minutes. If a movie that
runs for 66 minutes is replaced by one that runs for 52 minutes, what is the average length per movie, in
minutes, for the new group of movies, in terms of t?
2
a) t + 3

2
b) t - 3

c) 21t + 14

3
d) t + 2

3
e) t - 2
Question 11

The average (mean) selling price of 5 houses was $280,000. The average (mean) selling price of 3 of the
houses was $250,00.

Quantity A Quantity B

$280,000 Median selling price

Question 12

The average (mean) of 7 numbers in a list is 12. The average of the 4 smallest numbers is 8. The
average of the 4 biggest numbers is 20. How much greater is the sum of the 3 biggest numbers than the
sum of the 3 smallest numbers?

a) 4
b) 14
c) 28
d) 48
e) 52

Question 13

The average (mean) of n test scores is 80. The average (mean) of the original n test scores plus an
additional test score of 85 is 81.

Quantity A Quantity B

n 5

Question 14

A motorcycle dealership sold exactly 15 motorcycles for a total of $225,000. The median price for the 15
vehicles was $13,000.

Quantity A Quantity B

Price of at least one of the vehicles $16,800

Question 15

A certain food truck sells burritos and tacos. Burritos cost $5 and tacos cost $2. Last year the truck had
a total of 15 items on the menu and the average price of an item was $3. This year it added more taco
items and the average price of a food item dropped to $2.50. How many taco items are on the menu
now?

a) 6
b) 9
c) 10
d) 15
e) 25
 Answer Key

1) D
2) D
3) B
4) E
5) D
6) D
7) E
8) C
9) C
10) B
11) D
12) D
13) B
14) A
15) E
 Explanations

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challenging and a bit overwhelming) remember that you don’t have to learn this stuff all on your own.
I’m here to help.

Reach out anytime: [email protected] and we can talk about the best way to help you
reach your goals (the consultation is completely free).

Question 1

If the range of the six numbers 4, 3, 14, 7, 10 and x is 12, what is the difference between the greatest
and least possible values of x?

a) 0
b) 2
c) 12
d) 13
e) 15

Q: (biggest x) - (smallest xx)

Framework: range = biggest number - smallest number

Insight: The range of the numbers we’re given is 11 (14 – 3 = 11). But we need a range of 12. That
means x must be the largest or the smallest number in the range.

So to get a range of 12, x must equal 15: (15 – 3 = 12) OR x must equal 2 (14 – 2 = 12)

15 – 2 = 13

Answer: D

Question 2

The sum of the weekly salaries of 5 employees is $3250. If each of the 5 salaries is to increase by 10
percent, then the average (mean) weekly salary per employee will increase by

a) $52.50
b) $55.00
c) $57.50
d) $65.00
e) $650.00

Q: What is a 10% increase in the current average salary?

Framework: TTL value = number of things * average salary

3250 = 5 * average salary

Average salary = 3250/5 OR $650 is the current average salary. $650 increased by 10% is $65

Answer: D
Question 3

For the positive numbers: x, x + 1, x + 2, x + 4 and x + 8, the mean is how much greater than the
median?

a) 0
b) 1
c) n+1
d) n+2
e) n+3

Q: mean – median

Framework: means and median

Median (middle number): x + 2

(𝑥)+(𝑥+1)+(𝑥+2)+(𝑥+4)+(𝑥+8) 5𝑥+15 5𝑥 15
Mean: OR OR + OR x + 3
5 5 5 5
mean – median: (x + 3) – (x + 2) OR x + 3 – x – 2 = 1

Answer: B

Question 4

At a certain fruit stand, the price of each apple is 40 cents and the price of each orange is 60 cents.
Emily selects a total of 10 apples and oranges from the fruit stand, and the average (mean) price of the
10 pieces of fruit is 56 cents. How many oranges must Emily put back so that the average price of the
fruit she keeps is 52 cents?

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
e) 5

Q: number of oranges she puts back

(40)(a) + 60 (o)
English into math: = 56
10

Insight: we have one equation but two variables - won’t work. Use LEGO inference.
(40)(a) + 60 (10−a)
LEGO Inference: = 56 OR 40a + 600 – 60a = 560 OR a = 2
10
Original fruit: apples = 2; oranges = 8
 (40)(2) + 60 (8−y)
New Fruit: = 52 NOTE: y = number of oranges she puts back
2+8−𝑦

80 + 480−60y
= 52 OR 80 + 480 – 60y = 52 (10 – y) OR 560 – 60y = 520 – 52y OR -8y = -40 OR y = 5
10−𝑦

Answer: E

Question 5

In a bodega in New York, the average (mean) revenue was $400 per day over a 10 day period. During
this time, if the average daily revenue was $360 for the first 6 days, what was the average daily revenue
for the last 4 days?

a) $420
b) $440
c) $450
d) $460
e) $480

Q: average revenue days 7 – 10

Framework: TTL value = # of things * average

English into math: TTL revenue = $400 * 10 OR TTL revenue = $4000

English into math: First 6 day revenue = $360 * 6 OR First 6 day revenue = $2160

Revenue for last 4 days: TTL revenue - first 6 days revenue OR $4000 – $2160 = $1840

Average Revenue for last 4 days: $1840/4 = 460

Answer: D
Question 6

Seven pieces of copper pipe have an average (mean) length of 68 inches and a median length of 84
inches. If the length of the longest pipe is 14 inches more than 4 times the length of the shortest pipe,
what is the maximum possible length, in inches, of the longest pipe?

a) 82
b) 118
c) 120
d) 134
e) 152

Q: maximize the longest pipe

Framework – Min/Max: Anytime we’re asked to maximize one thing we want to MINIMIZE everything
else.

Framework: TTL value = # of things * average

Framework: Median is the middle number

English into Math: TTL length = 68 * 7 OR TTL length = 476

English into Math: Median = 84 so pipe #4 = 84

English into math, longest pipe: (4)(shortest) + 14

Minimize each value and then calculate the length of the longest pipe. It’s pretty easy to see that pipe
4 has to be 84 and the smallest we can make pipes 5 and 6 is 84. But what about the others?

Pipe 1 Pipe 2 Pipe 3 Pipe 4 Pipe 5 Pipe 6 Pipe 7

84 84 84

We want pipes 1, 2 and 3 to be as short as we can make them. That means they will all be as short as
the shortest pipe. And we were told the longest pipe = 4(s) + 14.

So the rest of the chart must look like this…

Pipe 1 Pipe 2 Pipe 3 Pipe 4 Pipe 5 Pipe 6 Pipe 7

s s s 84 84 84 4s + 14

And we know when we add up all the pipes the total length has to be 476. So that means:

3s + 84 + 84 + 84+ 4s + 14 = 476 OR 7s + 266 = 476 OR 7s = 210 OR s = 30

Shortest: 30

Longest: (4)(30) + 14 OR 134

Answer: D
Question 7

For the past n days, the average (mean) daily production at a company was 50 units. If today’s
production of 90 units raises the average to 55 units per day, what is the value of n?

a) 30
b) 18
c) 10
d) 9
e) 7

Q: n = ? OR number of days = ?

Framework: TTL value = # of things * average

English into math: TTL value = n * 50 OR TTL value = 50n

90 + 50𝑛
English into math: = 55
1+𝑛
Solve for n: 90 + 50n = 55(1 + n) OR 90 + 50n = 55 + 55n OR 35 = 5n OR n = 7

Answer: E

You can also solve it as a mixture problem. Set it up as per usual (number of things times the value for
each column) and then just solve for n.

Original + Added = Target

(50)(n) (90)(1) 55(n + 1)

Question 8

The mean of the list of numbers: 3, k, 2, 8, m, 3 is 4. If k and m are integers and k does not equal m,
then what is the median of the list?

a) 2
b) 2.5
c) 3
d) 3.5
e) 4

Q: median is ?

Framework: TTL value = # of things * average

3+𝑘+2+8+𝑚+3
English into math: = 4 OR 3 + k + 2 = 8 + m + 3 = 24 OR 16 + m + k = 24 OR m + k = 8
6
Insight: If m + k must equal 8, then there aren’t many possibilities for m and k: 1 and 7, 2 and
6 , 3 and 5
Try them:
1, 2, 3, 3, 7, 8 median is 3
2, 2, 3, 3, 6, 8 median is 3
2, 3, 3, 3, 5, 8 median is 3
Answer: C
Question 9

Daily temperatures: 61, 86, 112, 123, 122, 136, 110, 130, 110, 105, 115, 96, 124

The above data set reflects the daily temperature readings that researchers recorded at a green house
over a 13 days period. The mean temperature was 110 degrees Fahrenheit. After reviewing the data the
researchers discovered an error. The first temperature in the set was entered 26 degrees too low. After
correcting the error how many degrees from the original mean temperature is the corrected mean
temperature?

a) 0
b) 1
c) 2
d) 4
e) 6

Question: Corrected average – original average

Framework: adjusting averages

Insight: The average for the last 12 temps don’t change. We just have to adjust the first temp. And that
first temp needs to be adjust up 26 degrees.
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
Insight: The adjustment for averages is calculated as: original average +/- 𝑇𝑇𝐿 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠

Original average: 110

Adjusted change: +26

26
Calculating new average: 110 + 13
OR 110 + 2 OR 112

112 – 100 = 2

Answer: C
Question 10

The average (mean) length per movie for the 21 movies in a film festival is t minutes. If a movie that
runs for 66 minutes is replaced by one that runs for 52 minutes, what is the average length per movie, in
minutes, for the new group of movies, in terms of t?
2
a) t +
3

2
b) t - 3

c) 21t + 14

3
d) t +
2

3
e) t - 2

Question: Average for new movies length in terms of t

Framework: adjusting averages

𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
Insight: The adjustment for averages is calculated as: original average +/-
𝑇𝑇𝐿 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠

Original average: t
14 2
Adjustment: t - 21 OR t - 3

Answer: B
Question 11

The average (mean) selling price of 5 houses was $280,000. The average (mean) selling price of 3 of the
houses was $250,00.

Quantity A Quantity B

$280,000 Median selling price

Q: what is the median?

Framework: TTL value = # of things * average

English into math: TTL value of all 5 houses = 280 * 5 OR TTL value = 1400

Insight: That means the total value of the 5 house must ALWAYS add to 1400

English into math: TTL value of 3 houses = 250 * 3 OR TTL value of 3 houses 750

Insight: The combined value of the other 2 houses must be 650 (1400 – 750)

Qty A / Qty B Strategy: Try and make the median BIGGER than 280 and try and make the median
SMALLER than 280. Just play with the numbers a bit. 3 houses have to equal 750. 2 house have to
equal 650.

Median smaller than 280: median is 250

House 1 House 2 House 3 House 4 House 5

1 250 250 250 649

Median bigger than 280

House 1 House 2 House 3 House 4 House 5

1 165 290 295 649

Insight: Within the constraints of the question we can make the median bigger than 280 and we can
make the median smaller than 280. So we don’t know if Qty A is bigger or smaller than Qty B.

Answer: D
Question 12

The average (mean) of 7 numbers in a list is 12. The average of the 4 smallest numbers is 8. The
average of the 4 biggest numbers is 20. How much greater is the sum of the 3 biggest numbers than the
sum of the 3 smallest numbers?

a) 4
b) 14
c) 28
d) 48
e) 52

Question: (sum of 3 biggest) - (sum of 3 smallest)

Framework: TTL value = # of things * average

TTL Value of the entire set: TTL value = 7 * 12 OR TTL value = 84

TTL value of the 4 smallest numbers: TTL value = 4 * 8 OR TTL value = 32

TTL value of 4 biggest numbers: TLL value = 4 * 20 OR TTL value = 80

In math:

a + b + c + d = 32

g + f + e + d = 80

Insight: Subtract the equations and ‘d’ will drop out leaving us with the difference between the sum of
the biggest 3 and the smallest 3 numbers.

g + f + e + d = 80
_
a + b + c + d = 32
(g + f + e) - (a + b + c) = 48

Answer: D
Question 13

The average (mean) of n test scores is 80. The average (mean) of the original n test scores plus an
additional test score of 85 is 81.

Quantity A Quantity B

n 5

Q: n = ? or the number of

Framework: Mixtures

Remember we set it up as (value * # ) for each column.

Original + Added + Target

(80)(n) (85)(1) (81)(n + 1)

Solve for n: 80n + 85 = 81(n + 1) OR 80n + 85 = 81n + 81 OR n = 4

Answer: B

Question 14

A motorcycle dealership sold exactly 15 motorcycles for a total of $225,000. The median price for the 15
vehicles was $13,000.

Quantity A Quantity B

price of at least one of the vehicles $16,800

Q: Does at least one of the motorcycles have to be more than $16,800?

Framework: mixing means and medians

Mean: $225/15 = $15k

Insight: If the median is $13K then 8 motorcycles MUST have sold for at least $2K UNDER the mean
price of $15K. That means at LEAST one of the other 7 MUST have sold for at least $2k ABOVE the
mean price of $15k. So at least one motorcycle sold for $17,000 or more.

Answer: A

Or think of it this way. If the median is $13K then 8 motorcycles must has sold for 13K or less. Let’s
assume every single one of them sold for $13K. $13K * 8 = $104K.

So we’ve accounted for $104K of the $225K of the total revenue. That means we still have $121k
outstanding that has to be accounted for by selling the remaining 7 motorcycles.

$121K /7 means the average selling price for the remaining 7 motorcycles is about $17,200. $17,200 is
more than $16,800
Question 15

A certain food truck sells burritos and tacos. Burritos cost $5 and tacos cost $2. Last year the truck had
a total of 15 items on the menu and the average price of an item was $3. This year it added more taco
items and the average price of a food item dropped to $2.50. How many taco items are on the menu
now?

a) 6
b) 9
c) 10
d) 15
e) 25

Q: How many taco items are on the menu now?

Famework: means- remember that when you’re dealing with means you’re dealing with the price of
things times the number of things.

Also: Carefully get all the statements out of English and into math.

b = number of burrito items originally on menu – cost is $5

t = number of taco items originally on menu – cost is $2

Last year:
(5)(𝑏) + 2 (𝑡)
English: Sold 15 items with an average price of $3 Math: =3
15

Insight: we have one equation but two unknowns

If the total number of items is 15, then the number
of taco items on the menu must be 15 minus the
(5)(𝑏) + 2 (15−𝑏)
number of burritos items on the menu. Math: =3
15

Math: 5(b) + 2 (15 – b) = 45

Math: 5b + 30 – 2b = 45

Math: 3b = 15

Math: b = 5

So: there were 5 burritos items on the original menu

That means there were 10 tacos items

This year:
English: same number of burritos items (5) but
Added more taco items and the average
price was $2.50

t = number of taco items on the new menu

(5)(5) + 2 (𝑡)
Math: = 2.5
5+𝑡
Math: 25 + 2t = 2.5 (5 + t)

Math: 25 + 2t = 12.5 + 2.5t

Math: 12.5 = .5t

Math: t = 25

Answer: E