An average in mathematical terms is an arithmetic mean. It is the sum of ‘n’ different numbers divided by ‘n’.
If a student scores 7, 6 and 8 in three different tests, each of ten marks, then his average score will be 7.
A few illustrations have been given below.
1. The average weight of ten students is increased by 1.8 kg when one student weighing 53 kg is replaced by a new student. Find the weight of the new student.
To save time during exams we can use this formula directly
- If the average is increased then
Weight of new comer = weight of the person who left+ total increase in weight
Total increase in weight = number of men * increase in average weight
= 10×18= 18
New comer weight = 53+18=71
- If the average is decreased then
Weight of new comer = weight of the person who left – total decrease in weight
The total decrease in weight is = number of men * decrease in average weight
2. The average of 15 results is 75. If the average of the first seven results is 77 and that of the last seven is 72, find the seventh result.
Let the sum of all fifteen terms be x
x= sum of first seven terms + seventh term + sum of last seven terms – (1)
Using the formula:
“Total = Average * Number of data elements”
We get
- x = 75 * 15
- x = 1125 i.e. sum of all fifteen terms = 1125
Using the same formula:
Sum of first seven terms = 7* 77 = 539
Sum of last seven terms = 7 * 72 = 504
Using (1) we get
1125 = 539 + seventh term + 504
- Seventh term = 82
3. The average of w, x, y, z is 16. Half the sum of x, y, z is 28. What is the value of w?
Since the average of the four terms is 16
- (w + x + y + z) /4 = 16
- (w + x + y + z) = 64 – (1)
We also have
- (x + y + z ) / 2 = 28
- (x + y + z ) = 56
Using (1) we have
- w + 56 = 64
- w = 8
In your mind, this sum should not take more than 3-4 seconds.
4. The average cost of eight items in a shop is Rs. 5000. Three items costing Rs.4000, Rs. 4200, Rs. 4300 are sold. What is the average cost of the remaining items?
Using the formula:
Total = Average * Number of data elements
- Total Cost of eight items = 5000 * 8
- Total Cost of eight items = 40000
Total cost of the three items which are sold = 4000 + 4200 + 4300 = 12500
Now the cost of the remaining five items = Cost of eight items – cost of the three items which are sold
- 40000 – 12500 =
- 27500
Using the formula:
Average = Total of the data
Number of data elements
Average = 27500/ 5 = Rs 5500
You should not need to pick up pen for this. This question should take hardly 6-7 seconds in your mind.
5. A driver drove at an average speed of 50 km/hour for the first two hours of her journey. For the next three hours she averaged 20 km/ hour. What was the average speed overall?
Distance covered in the first two hours = 50 km/hour * 2 hours = 100 km
Distance covered in the last three hours = 20 km/ hour * 3 hours = 60 km
Total distance = 160 km
Total time= 5 hours
Average speed = 32 km/ hour
This question too should not take more than 7 seconds.
Exercise
- Find the average of all prime numbers between 35 and 45.
- The average weight of A, B, C is 45 kg. The average weight of A and B is 40 kg, and of B and C is 43 kg. Find the weight of B.
- The average salary per month of 30 teachers is Rs 4000. If the Principal’s salary is added, the average salary is increased to Rs 4, 300. What is the Principal’s salary?
- The arithmetic mean of 5 numbers is 27. If one of the numbers is excluded their mean is 25. What is the excluded number?
- The mean temperature from Monday to Wednesday was 370 C and Tuesday to Thursday was 340 C. if the temperature on Thursday was 4/5th of Monday, what was the temperature on Thursday?
- The average age of 3 children in a family is 20% of the average age of the father and the eldest child. the total age of the mother and the youngest child is 39 years. if the father’s age is 26 years, what is the age of the second child?
- The mean weight of 120 students in the first year class of a college is 56 kg. If the mean weight of boys and that of girls in the class are 60kg and 50 kg respectively, then what is the number of boys and girls in the class?
- There are 35 students in a hostel. Due to the admission of 7 new students, the expenses of the mess were increased by Rs 42 per day while the average expenditure per head diminished by Re. 1. What was the original expenditure by the mess?
- The average age of 30 students in a class is 15 years. If 10 more boys join the class, the average age of the whole class is reduced by one year. What is the average age of the new comers?
- The average age of a family of six members is 25 years. After two years, a person dies at the age of 36 years and a new baby is born. What would be the average age of the family after eight years?
Please post your answers below. We can discuss it there.