Question

The highest and lowest scores on a test taken by 80 students are within 19 points of the average of the exam. The average for this exam was a 72. Set up an equation to solve for the highest and lowest scores. Show your original equation and the process used to find the highest and lowest exam score.

Answer 1

1. So start off by asking yourself, how will I get this answer? Absolute values!

2. So what the question is asking is for you to build and equation that shows us how to solve for the highest and lowest grades that are 19 points above and below the average of 72.

3. So your unknown is x, and for us to be able to plug in our highest and lowest scores it will always have to = 19 (that’s the rule we got from the question)

So now this is where your absolute value comes in.

4. Set it up

| x - 72 | = 19

5. Solve it

72-19=53 Minimum

72+19=91 Maximum

6. | 53 - 72 | = 19

| 91 - 72 | = 19