why-5

[sujoy]

this is puzzling me no end
sir the prob is :
There are '4' men whose average height is 74 inches.THe difference
of height amongst the 1st 3 is 2 inchs & diff of ht between 3rd&
4th is 6. say the heights of each?

the thing is that there are 2 answerrs!!!!!

sol1]if minimum ht., be x then:x+x+2+x+4+x+10=74*4=296
=> x= 70
soln2] if maximum ht be y then y+y-2+y-4+y-10=296
=>y=78 # the entire difference should have been 10
WHY NOT SO PLEASE EXPLAIN

 

[Denis]

soln2] if maximum ht be y then y+y-2+y-4+y-10=296
=>y=78 # the entire difference should have been 10
WHY NOT SO PLEASE EXPLAIN

Not quite; y + y-6 + y-8 + y-10 = 296
Solve to get y = 80

 

[mathmike]

[quote="Denis]
Not quite; y + y-6 + y-8 + y-10 = 296
Solve to get y = 80[/quote]

I think, sol.2 is also correct. The reason is that distribution of heights between min and max is not even. As such, it does matter where do you start from:
sol. 1 & your variant determine the same sequence of heights:
70, 72, 74, 80 - average 74
sol. 2:
68, 74, 76, 78 - average 74
in latter case the 'right' man was considered as the first one.

 

[sujoy]

I want to thank all of you for helping me so much

[The reason is that distribution of heights between min and max is not even. As such, it does matter where do you start from:
/quote]
this thing could youplease elaborate
regards
Sujoy

 

[Gene]

I don't understand what

The difference of height amongst the 1st 3 is 2

means. Are you sure that is an exact quote of the problem? If you call them A, B and C, I can't assigh heights. You have 4" between A and C, not 2". I don't see how you can talk about "the difference between" three numbers, only between two numbers. Perhaps the average difference? One word can have an effect.
----------------
Gene

 

[mathmike]

this thing could youplease elaborate
regards
Sujoy

Here's a picture:

you can consider average point is the point of balance where your individual heights are represented as weights of 1 placed at the distance equal to the difference between that individual height and the average. As you've noticed, there could be two solutions to the given problem that produce two different distributions. In both cases imaginary scale will be in balance.

 

[sujoy]

yes that was the exact language,, however please wait for just a few days , i will borrow the once more
thanks everybody.......pls wait
regards