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I have 3 number cards. The median is 4. If the Range is 3, what is the missing number?

User Marc Wouts
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1 Answer

5 votes

Label the cards A, B, C from smallest to largest value.

B is in the middle. Because the median is 4, we know that B = 4.

The cards A, B, C can be updated to A, 4, C

We cannot determine A nor C. There isn't enough information. However, we do know that C-A = 3 because the range is the difference of the max and min.

The equation C-A = 3 can be solved to C = A+3.

Here are some example sets of trios we could have

A = 2, B = 4, C = 5

A = 3, B = 4, C = 6

We cannot have A = 4 as this would start to step on B. I'm assuming the cards display different values.

Notice that A = 1 isn't possible because C = A+3 = 1+3 = 4, which also steps on B.

User Rahul W
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