SPOORTHY Srinivas (IIT)
CSAT & CAT (10 Years of Exp)
Concept Name: Averages Applications in Numbers
Example 1: Average of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5?
(a) 3 (b) 4 (c) 2 (d) 3.5
Solution: Average of equally spaced numbers (2 – 1 = 3 – 2 = 4 – 3 = 5 – 4 = 1) is middle
number, it is 3 here.
If a big series is given it is difficult to figure out middle number so better to follow
another alternate way,
Average = (First + Last number)/ 2 = Middle number
In above series, Average of first and last numbers, i.e. (1 + 5)/ 2 = 3.
Example 2: Average of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6……2022?
(a) 2022 (b) 1012 (c) 1011.5 (d) None
Solution: = (1+ 2022) / 2 = 1011.5
Examiner Point of View Questions
1. Consider a sequence of seven consecutive integers, the average of first five integers is k. The
average of all seven integers is:
(a) k (b) k + 1 (c) k + 2 (d) None
Solution: Average of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is 3 (= k). Average of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 is 4 (=k + 1). Answer is
Option b, k + 1
2. Five consecutive even numbers 2x, (2x + 2), (2x + 4), (2x + 6), (2x + 8), average is 24, then
I. Largest number is = 28
II. Average of smallest and largest numbers is 24
Which of the above statements are/is correct?
(a) Only 1 (b) Only II (c) Both I & II (d) None of the above
Solution: (I) Middle number is (2x + 4) which is 24. So the largest number is = 24 + 2 + 2 = 28
(II) Average of smallest (1st) and largest (last), numbers is 24 only. So no need to find x value.
Both are correct.
3. The average of all the numbers between 6 and 500 which are divisible by 5 is
(a) 275 (b) 225 (c) Can’t be determined (d) None of the above
Solution: Series is 10, 15, 20,………..495, So average is (10+495)/ 2 = 252.5. Option (d)
4. Consider two-digit numbers which remain the same when the digits interchange their positions.
What is the average of such two-digit numbers? (UPSC CDS 2019)
(a) 33 (b) 44 (c) 55 (d) 66
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Solution: Two Digit number = Revere number
Examples: 11, 22, 33……………..88, 99, then Mean = (11 + 99)/ 2 = 55 & Option (c)
5. A contract on construction job specifies a penalty for delay in completion of the work beyond a
certain date is as follows: Rs.200 for the first day, Rs.250 for the second day, Rs.300 for the third
day etc., the penalty for each succeeding day being Rs.50 more than that of the preceding day.
How much penalty should the contractor pay if he delays the work by 10 days? (UPSC CSAT
PYQS)
(a) Rs.4950 (b) Rs.4250 (c) Rs.3600 (d) Rs.650
Solution: 1 day = 200; 2 day = 200 + 50 = 250;
st nd
3rd day = 200 + 2 x 50 = 300; .; 10th day = 200 + 9 x 50 = 650. Average = (1st + last)/2 = (200 +
650)/2 = 425. 10 days Sum = 10 x 425 = 4250
6. A student appeared in 6 papers. The maximum marks are the same for each paper. His marks in
these papers are in the proportion of 5: 6: 7: 8: 9: 10. Overall he scored 60%. In how many numbers
of papers did he score less than 60% of the maximum marks? (UPSC CSAT 2021)
(a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 5
Solution: (Overall, he scored 60%) means average percentage is 60% and marks ratios given.
Let us assume scores are, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10.
Their mean will be (1st + last)/2 = (5 + 10)/2 = 15/2 = 7.5 marks which is = 60%.
Numbers of papers he scored less than 60% (i.e. less than 7.5) So 5, 6, 7 < 7.5 Three papers. (b)
7. A student took five papers in an examination, where the full marks were the same for each paper.
His marks in these papers were in the proportion of 6 : 7 : 8 : 9 : 10. In all papers together, the
candidate obtained 60% of the total marks. Then the number of papers in which he got more
than 50% marks is: (CAT 2001)
(1) 2 (2) 3 (3) 4 (4) 5
Solution: This Question asked in CAT exam in 2001.
Their mean will be (1st + last)/2 = (6 + 10)/2 = 16/2 = 8 marks which is = 60%
Numbers of papers he scored less than 50%?
60% ---------8; 50% ---------? = 50/ 60 x 8 = 6.66 marks
Last four papers marks 7, 8, 9, 10 are > 6.66 so four Papers
8. For five children with ages a < b < c < d < e; any two successive ages differ by 2 years.
Question: What is the age of the youngest child?
Statement-1: The age of the eldest is 3 times the youngest.
Statement-2: The average age of the children is 8 years.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the statement? (CSAT 2023)
(a) The question can be answered by using one of the statements alone, but cannot be answered using
the other statement alone.
(b) The question can be answered by using either statement alone.
(c) The question can be answered by using both the statements together, but cannot be answered using
either statement alone.
(d) The question cannot be answered even using both the statements together.
Solution: Need to find a’s age. Difference between any two adjacent persons is same i.e. 2 years. Average
value is = middle one = c = 8 years (from statement 2)
If c = 8 years, b =6 then a = 4 years (We can find a’s age from Statement -2). Statement -1 -> e = 3a; so 3a – a
= 8 years, 2a = 8; a = 4 years. (We can also find a’s age from Statement -1). Either S-1 or S-2. Answer is
Option (b)
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