Math Problem Statement

Five friends took a test with a maximum score of 100. The average score of the four friends with the lowest scores was 80, and the average score of the four friends with the highest scores was 85. What is the difference between the maximum and minimum possible overall average?

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 a1,a2,a3,a4,a5a_1, a_2, a_3, a_4, a_5, arranged in increasing order.

From the problem, we have:

  1. The average score of the lowest four friends is 80. This gives: a1+a2+a3+a44=80\frac{a_1 + a_2 + a_3 + a_4}{4} = 80 Therefore: a1+a2+a3+a4=320a_1 + a_2 + a_3 + a_4 = 320
  2. The average score of the highest four friends is 85. This gives: a2+a3+a4+a54=85\frac{a_2 + a_3 + a_4 + a_5}{4} = 85 Therefore: a2+a3+a4+a5=340a_2 + a_3 + a_4 + a_5 = 340

Step 2: Solve for a5a_5 and a1a_1.

Subtract the first equation from the second: (a2+a3+a4+a5)(a1+a2+a3+a4)=340320(a_2 + a_3 + a_4 + a_5) - (a_1 + a_2 + a_3 + a_4) = 340 - 320 This simplifies to: a5a1=20a_5 - a_1 = 20

Thus, the difference between the highest score a5a_5 and the lowest score a1a_1 is 20.

Step 3: Find the overall average.

The total sum of all five scores is: a1+a2+a3+a4+a5=320+a5a_1 + a_2 + a_3 + a_4 + a_5 = 320 + a_5 Using a5=a1+20a_5 = a_1 + 20, we get: a1+a2+a3+a4+(a1+20)=320+(a1+20)a_1 + a_2 + a_3 + a_4 + (a_1 + 20) = 320 + (a_1 + 20) Simplifying: a1+320+20=340a_1 + 320 + 20 = 340

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:

  1. How do you calculate an overall average of multiple numbers?
  2. What other methods can you use to solve averages with different constraints?
  3. Can you explain how knowing just two averages helps determine unknowns?
  4. Why does subtracting two equations help solve the unknowns?
  5. 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