Math Problem Statement
Solution
Let's break down the problem in the image:
Problem:
- Five friends took a test with a maximum score of 100.
- The average score of the four friends with the lowest scores is 80.
- The average score of the four friends with the highest scores is 85.
- We need to determine the difference between the maximum and minimum possible overall averages.
Step 1: Establish what we know.
Let the scores of the five friends be , arranged in increasing order.
From the problem, we have:
- The average score of the lowest four friends is 80. This gives: Therefore:
- The average score of the highest four friends is 85. This gives: Therefore:
Step 2: Solve for and .
Subtract the first equation from the second: This simplifies to:
Thus, the difference between the highest score and the lowest score is 20.
Step 3: Find the overall average.
The total sum of all five scores is: Using , we get: Simplifying:
Now, we need to calculate the maximum and minimum possible overall averages based on the constraints. Would you like to proceed with further clarifications, or provide additional questions?
Here are some relative questions to extend understanding:
- How do you calculate an overall average of multiple numbers?
- What other methods can you use to solve averages with different constraints?
- Can you explain how knowing just two averages helps determine unknowns?
- Why does subtracting two equations help solve the unknowns?
- What other scenarios might require calculating maximum and minimum averages?
Tip: In problems with averages, the sum of the individual elements can often be found by multiplying the average by the number of terms!
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Averages
Algebra
System of Equations
Formulas
Average = Total Sum / Number of Items
Difference of Sums: (a5 - a1) = 20
Theorems
Properties of Averages
Linear Equations
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 8-10
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