Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized for You
we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Track Your Progress
every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance
Practice Pays
we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Set N is a set of x distinct positive integers where x > 2. [#permalink]
28 Jul 2018, 16:25
Expert's post
00:00
Question Stats:
28% (01:18) correct
71% (00:32) wrong based on 14 sessions
Set N is a set of x distinct positive integers where x > 2.
Quantity A
Quantity B
The standard deviation of set N
The standard deviation of set N if every number in the set were multiplied by –3
A) Quantity A is greater. B) Quantity B is greater. C) The two quantities are equal. D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
Re: Set N is a set of x distinct positive integers where x > 2. [#permalink]
12 Aug 2018, 16:17
1
This post received KUDOS
Expert's post
Explanation
“Set N is a set of x distinct positive integers where x > 2” just means that the members of the set are all positive integers different from each other, and that there are at least 3 of them.
Nothing is given about the standard deviation of the set other than that it is not zero. (Because the numbers are different from each other, they are at least a little spread out, which means the standard deviation must be greater than zero. The only way to have a standard deviation of zero is to have a “set” of identical numbers, which would be referred to as a list or a dataset because all of the elements of a proper set (in math) must be different).
In Quantity B, multiplying each of the distinct integers by –3 would definitely spread out the numbers and thus increase the standard deviation. For instance, if the set had been 1, 2, 3, it would become –3, –6, –9. The negatives are irrelevant—multiplying any set of different integers by 3 will spread them out more.
Thus, whatever the standard deviation is for the set in Quantity A, Quantity B must represent a larger standard deviation because the numbers in that set are more spread out.
_________________
Sandy If you found this post useful, please let me know by pressing the Kudos Button
Re: Set N is a set of x distinct positive integers where x > 2. [#permalink]
23 Aug 2018, 06:55
1
This post received KUDOS
Expert's post
sandy wrote:
Set N is a set of x distinct positive integers where x > 2.
Quantity A
Quantity B
The standard deviation of set N
The standard deviation of set N if every number in the set were multiplied by –3
A) Quantity A is greater. B) Quantity B is greater. C) The two quantities are equal. D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
ASIDE: The key here is that the numbers are DISTINCT (if they weren't distinct, then the answer would be D).
Let's examine some possible sets: If set N = {1, 2, 3}, then the NEW set = {-3, -6, -9} Notice that the NEW set is MORE DISPERSED than the original set. So, the standard deviation of the NEW set is greater than that of the original set
Likewise, if set N = {0.2, 0.5 and 1.1}, then the NEW set = {-0.6, -1.5, -3.3} Notice that the NEW set is MORE DISPERSED than the original set. So, the standard deviation of the NEW set is greater than that of the original set
Likewise, if set N = {-1, 0 and 1}, then the NEW set = {3, 0, -3} Notice that the NEW set is MORE DISPERSED than the original set. So, the standard deviation of the NEW set is greater than that of the original set
Etc.
Answer: B
RELATED VIDEO FROM OUR COURSE
_________________
Brent Hanneson – Creator of greenlighttestprep.com Sign up for our free GRE Question of the Dayemails
greprepclubot
Re: Set N is a set of x distinct positive integers where x > 2.
[#permalink]
23 Aug 2018, 06:55
close
28% (01:18) correct
