The average points accumulated by 6 contestants is 79.5. They have all attained different points which are whole numbers. The lowest point is 52 while the highest point is 91.
- Find the average points achieved by the 4 contestants whose marks lie between the highest and the lowest.
- Find the smallest possible second lowest mark among these 6 contestants.
- Find the largest possible second lowest mark among these 6 contestants.
(a)
Total points of 6 contestants
= 6 x 79.5
= 477
Total points of the rest of the 4 contestants
= 477 - 91 - 52
= 334
Average points of 4 contestants
= 334 ÷ 4
= 83.5
(b)
To have the smallest possible second lowest mark among the 6 contestants, the 3rd contestant to the 6th contestant must have as high a score as possible and the 2nd contestant must have the second lowest score among the 6 contestants.
So the 6th contestant will have the highest score. The 5th contestant will have 1 mark will less than 6th contestant and this pattern continues to the 3rd contestant.
1st contestant's score = 52
2nd contestant's score = ?
3rd contestant's score = 91 - 3 = 88
4th contestant's score = 91 - 2 = 89
5th contestant's score = 91 - 1 = 90
6th contestant's score = 91
The smallest possible second lowest mark among these 6 contestants
= 334 - 90 - 89 - 88
= 67
(c)
To have the largest possible second lowest mark among these 6 contestants, the 2nd contestant to the 5th contestant must have as high a score as possible but lower than the 6th contestant.
So the 2nd contestant will have the highest possible second lowest score. The 3rd child must have at least 1 mark higher than the 2nd child and the pattern continues to the 5th child.
1st contestant's score = 52
2nd contestant's score = 1 u
3rd contestant's score = 1 u + 1
4th contestant's score = 1 u + 2
5th contestant's score = 1 u + 3
6th contestant's score = 91
1 u + (1 u + 1) + (1 u + 2) + (1 u + 3) = 334
4 u + 6 = 334
4 u = 334 - 6
4 u = 328
1 u = 328 ÷ 4 = 82
82 x 4 + 6 = 334 (Equal to 334)
Largest possible second lowest mark among these 6 contestants = 82
Answer(s): (a) 83.5; (b) 67; (c) 82
