Consider the following 15 numbers 1, 2, y - 4, 4, 5, x, 6, 7, 8, y, 9, 10, 12, 3x, 20 - The mean o

Discussion in 'Calculator Requests' started by math_celebrity, Jun 28, 2021.

  1. math_celebrity

    math_celebrity Administrator Staff Member

    Consider the following 15 numbers

    1, 2, y - 4, 4, 5, x, 6, 7, 8, y, 9, 10, 12, 3x, 20

    - The mean of the last 10 numbers is TWICE the mean of the first 10 numbers

    - The sum of the last 2 numbers is FIVE times the sum of the first 3 numbers

    (i) Calculate the values of x and y

    We're given two equations:
    1. (x + 6 + 7 + 8 + y + 9 + 10 + 12 + 3x + 20)/10 = 2(1 + 2 + y - 4 + 4 + 5 + x + 6 + 7 + 8 + y)/10
    2. 3x - 20 = 5(1 + 2 + y - 4)
    Let's evaluate and simplify:
    1. (x + 6 + 7 + 8 + y + 9 + 10 + 12 + 3x + 20)/10 = (1 + 2 + y - 4 + 4 + 5 + x + 6 + 7 + 8 + y)/5
    2. 3x - 20 = 5(y - 1)
    Simplify some more:
    (x + 6 + 7 + 8 + y + 9 + 10 + 12 + 3x + 20)/10 = (4x + y + 72)/10
    (1 + 2 + y - 4 + 4 + 5 + x + 6 + 7 + 8 + y)/5 = (2y + x + 29)/5
    5(y - 1) = 5y - 5

    So we're left with:
    1. (4x + y + 72)/10 = (2y + x + 29)/5
    2. 3x - 20 = 5y - 5
    Cross multiply equations in 1, we have:
    5(4x + y + 72) = 10(2y + x + 29)
    20x + 5y + 360 = 20y + 10x + 290

    We have:
    1. 20x + 5y + 360 = 20y + 10x + 290
    2. 3x - 20 = 5y - 5
    Combining like terms:
    1. 10x - 15y = -70
    2. 3x - 5y = 15
    Now we have a system of equations which we can solve any of three ways:
    No matter which method we choose, we get the same answer:
    (x, y) = (-115, -72)
     

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