DSQ: Calculating mode - GMAT Quantitative Reasoning
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What is the mode of a data set with ten data values?
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The value 15 occurs four times in the data set.
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The value 16 occurs three times in the data set.
What is the mode of a data set with ten data values?
-
The value 15 occurs four times in the data set.
-
The value 16 occurs three times in the data set.
If we are given only that 15 occurs four times in the data set, it is possible that another number can occur up to six times; similarly, if we are given only that 16 occurs three times, it is possible that another number can occur up to seven times. Either way, the mode - the most frequently occurring data value - cannot be determined.
However, if we know both facts, then no other data value can occur more than three times, so 15 must be the mode.
Therefore, the answer is that both statements are sufficient, but not one alone.
If we are given only that 15 occurs four times in the data set, it is possible that another number can occur up to six times; similarly, if we are given only that 16 occurs three times, it is possible that another number can occur up to seven times. Either way, the mode - the most frequently occurring data value - cannot be determined.
However, if we know both facts, then no other data value can occur more than three times, so 15 must be the mode.
Therefore, the answer is that both statements are sufficient, but not one alone.
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Give the median of the data set
,
where 
and 
are integers.
-
-
Give the median of the data set
where
Suppose 
but 
is unknown. The above set, with known elements ordered, is
The median is the arithmetic mean of the two middle elements, when the elements are ordered.
Regardless of the value of 
, the two middle elements must both be 84, making the median 84.
Now, suppose 
but 
is unknown. The above set, with known elements ordered, is
The median cannot be determined with certainty. For example, if 
, as stated before, the median is 84. But if 
, the middle elements are 84 and 87, making the median 85.5.
The answer is that Statement 1 alone is sufficent to answer the question, but Statement 2 alone is not.
Suppose
The median is the arithmetic mean of the two middle elements, when the elements are ordered.
Regardless of the value of
Now, suppose
The median cannot be determined with certainty. For example, if
The answer is that Statement 1 alone is sufficent to answer the question, but Statement 2 alone is not.
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What is the value of 
in the list above?
(1) 
(2) The mode of the numbers in the list is 
.
What is the value of
(1)
(2) The mode of the numbers in the list is
The mode is the value that appears most often in a set of data. In our list the value that appears most often is n. Therefore n is the mode of the numbers in the list.
Only statement (2) is useful in finding the value of n as it states that the mode of the numbers in the list is 16.
The mode is the value that appears most often in a set of data. In our list the value that appears most often is n. Therefore n is the mode of the numbers in the list.
Only statement (2) is useful in finding the value of n as it states that the mode of the numbers in the list is 16.
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The set
is bimodal. What is 
equal to?
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The set
is bimodal. What is
If we know that 
, then the set is known to have one 24, five 26's, three 27's, two 28's, and one 29. The only way the set can have two modes is for 
and 
; this makes 27 occur five times, just as frequently as 26.
If we know 
, however, the set is known to have one 24, four 26's, four 27's, two 28's, and one 29. There are two ways for the set to have two modes (26 and 27): for 
and 
, or for 
and 
.
The answer is that Statement 1 alone is sufficient to answer the question, but not Statement 2.
If we know that
If we know
The answer is that Statement 1 alone is sufficient to answer the question, but not Statement 2.
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Consider this data set: 
Which of the following statements correctly compares the median and the mode?
Consider this data set:
Which of the following statements correctly compares the median and the mode?
The median of a data set with an even number of elements is the arithmetic mean of the two elements that fall in the middle when the elements are arranged in ascending order. These two elements are both 6, so 6 is the median.
The mode of a data set is the element that occurs most frequently. Since 6 appears thre times, 7 appears two times, and all other elements appear once each, the mode is 6.
Therefore, the median and the mode are equal.
The median of a data set with an even number of elements is the arithmetic mean of the two elements that fall in the middle when the elements are arranged in ascending order. These two elements are both 6, so 6 is the median.
The mode of a data set is the element that occurs most frequently. Since 6 appears thre times, 7 appears two times, and all other elements appear once each, the mode is 6.
Therefore, the median and the mode are equal.
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Consider the data set
What is the value of 
?
Statement 1: The data set is bimodal.
Statement 2: The mean of the data set is 6.5.
Consider the data set
What is the value of
Statement 1: The data set is bimodal.
Statement 2: The mean of the data set is 6.5.
The data set has four 6's and no more than two of any other element - and there cannot be more than four of any other element regardless of the value of 
- so 6 must be one of the modes. For the set to be bimodal, there must be four of another element. Since 
occurs twice, it must be set to a number known to occur exactly two other times. There are, however, two choices, 5 and 7, so Statement 1 is insufficient.
Statement 2 is sufficient, as seen below:
The data set has four 6's and no more than two of any other element - and there cannot be more than four of any other element regardless of the value of
Statement 2 is sufficient, as seen below:
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Consider this data set: 
with six unknown values.
How many modes does this data set have?
Statement 1: 
.
Statement 2: None of 
, 
, 
, or 
are equal to each other.
Consider this data set:
with six unknown values.
How many modes does this data set have?
Statement 1:
Statement 2: None of
If 
, as given in Statement 1, the set can have one mode (the other four numbers are different from each other and from 
and 
), two modes (for example, 
) or three modes (for example, 
) . Therefore, Statement 1 alone is not enough.
If none of 
, 
, 
, or 
are equal to each other, as given in Statement 2, the set can have one mode (for example, 
, the other numbers are different), two modes (
, 
and 
are different), or no modes (all six different numbers).
If both statements are true, however, there are two possibilities - 
, with the other four elements being different, or 
, with one number being the same and the other three different. Either way, the set is known to have one mode.
If
If none of
If both statements are true, however, there are two possibilities -
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What is the value of 
in the list of numbers above?
(1) 
.
(2) The mode of the numbers in the list is 
.
What is the value of
(1)
(2) The mode of the numbers in the list is
The mode is the value that appears most often in a set of numbers. In the list given, the value that appears the most is m. Therefore, m is the mode in the list of numbers given.
(1) 
Therefore, 
.
Statement (1) is sufficient
(2) The mode of the numbers in the list is 6.
Therefore, 
.
Statement (2) is sufficient
Each Statement ALONE is SUFFICIENT
The mode is the value that appears most often in a set of numbers. In the list given, the value that appears the most is m. Therefore, m is the mode in the list of numbers given.
(1)
Therefore,
Statement (1) is sufficient
(2) The mode of the numbers in the list is 6.
Therefore,
Statement (2) is sufficient
Each Statement ALONE is SUFFICIENT
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What is the value of 
in the list of numbers above?
(1) The mode of the numbers in the list is 
.
(2) 
.
What is the value of
(1) The mode of the numbers in the list is
(2)
The mode is the value that appears most often in a set of data. In our list the value that appears most often is m+1. Therefore m+1 is the mode of the numbers in the list.
Only statement (1) is useful in finding the value of m as it states that the mode of the numbers in the list is 14.
Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but Statement (2) ALONE is not sufficient.
The mode is the value that appears most often in a set of data. In our list the value that appears most often is m+1. Therefore m+1 is the mode of the numbers in the list.
Only statement (1) is useful in finding the value of m as it states that the mode of the numbers in the list is 14.
Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but Statement (2) ALONE is not sufficient.
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What is the sum of 
and 
?
(1) The mode of the numbers in the list is 
.
(2) The product of 
and 
is 
.
What is the sum of
(1) The mode of the numbers in the list is
(2) The product of
The mode is the value that appears most often in a set of data. In our list the value that appears most often is 2y. Therefore 2y is the mode of the numbers in the list.
(1) The mode of the numbers in the list is 20.
We still don't know the value of x. Statement (1) ALONE is not sufficient.
(2) The product of x and y is 150.
Statement (2) ALONE is not sufficient.
Using both statements, we can write
Therefore, 
Both statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.
The mode is the value that appears most often in a set of data. In our list the value that appears most often is 2y. Therefore 2y is the mode of the numbers in the list.
(1) The mode of the numbers in the list is 20.
We still don't know the value of x. Statement (1) ALONE is not sufficient.
(2) The product of x and y is 150.
Statement (2) ALONE is not sufficient.
Using both statements, we can write
Therefore,
Both statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.
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Find the mode of the following set of numbers:
Find the mode of the following set of numbers:
The mode is the number that occurs most frequently. Therefore, our answer is 
.
The mode is the number that occurs most frequently. Therefore, our answer is
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