cat 2022 Question 13

Question

Consider six distinct natural numbers such that the average of the two smallest numbers is 14, and the average of the two largest numbers is 28. Then, the maximum possible value of the average of these six numbers is

Accepted Answer

Let the six numbers be a, b, c, d, e, f in ascending order

$a + b = 28$

$e + f = 56$

If we want to maximise the average then we have to maximise the value of c and d and maximise e and minimise f

$e + f = 56$

As e and f are distinct natural numbers so possible values are 27 and 29

Therefore c and d will be 25 and 26 respectively

So average = $\frac{a + b + c + d + e + f}{6} = \frac{(28 + 25 + 26 + 56)}{6} = \frac{135}{6} = 22.5$

Question 13.

Question Explanation