PSAT Math Multiple-Choice Question 395: Answer and Explanation

Question: 395

In a local rock climbing group, the mean novice member age is 22 years and the mean experienced member age is 26 years. Which of the following can be concluded about the average age, a, of the experienced and novice members of this rock climbing group?

• A. 22 < a < 26
• B. a = 24
• C. a > 24
• D. a < 24

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

A

Difficulty: Hard

Getting to the Answer: To answer this question, you need to understand the assumptions each inequality makes to identify the correct one. Start with (A). This is a reasonable conclusion to draw because the question does not specify anything about the relative quantity of experienced and novice club members, so keep (A) as a possible correct answer for the moment. Choice (B) assumes there are equal numbers of experienced and novice members. Choice (C) assumes there are more experienced than novice members, while (D) assumes there are more novice than experienced members. Because no information on the relative numbers of each is given, (B), (C), and (D) are all incorrect, leaving (A) as the only option.