Suppose that the mean and median of the non-negative numbers 21, 8, 17, a, 51, 103, b, 13, 67, (a>b), are 40 and 21, respectively. If the mean deviation about the median is 26, then 2a is equal to :
- 109
- 117
- 161
- 131
Answer
(4) 131
Solution
There are 9 numbers. Mean =40 total =360
Known numbers: 21+8+17+51+103+13+67=280 a+b=80
Mean deviation about median 21 is 26 |xi-21|=9 26=234
For the known numbers: 0+13+4+30+82+8+46=183
|a-21|+|b-21|=51
If a, b 21: a+b-42=38 51. If a, b<21, then a+b<42, impossible. Hence b<21 a.
(a-21)+(21-b)=51 a-b=51
With a+b=80: a= 1312, b= 292
Check median: 8, 13, 14.5, 17, 21, 51, 65.5, 67, 103 — the 5th value is 21
2a=131
Answer: (4)