Question

If the mean of 4 numbers 2, 6, 7, and 'a' is 15 and also the mean of other 5 numbers is 50, what is the value of 'a'?

Answer 1

To find the value of 'a', set up an equation based on the mean formula, add the numbers, and solve for 'a'. The computations show that the value of 'a' is 45.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the value of 'a' when given that the mean of the numbers 2, 6, 7, and 'a' is 15, we start by understanding that the mean of a set of numbers is the sum of the numbers divided by the number of numbers. Therefore, we can set up the equation as follows:

1. Add the known numbers and the variable 'a': 2 + 6 + 7 + a.
2. Divide the sum by the number of numbers (4 in this case) to set the equation equal to the mean (15): (2 + 6 + 7 + a) / 4 = 15.
3. Multiply both sides by 4 to isolate the sum on one side of the equation: 2 + 6 + 7 + a = 15 * 4.
4. Simplify and solve for 'a': 15 + a = 60, and thus a = 60 - 15 = 45.

Therefore, the value of 'a' that makes the mean of the numbers 2, 6, 7, and 'a' equal to 15 is 45.