Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) Practice Test

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Get ready for the GMAT with challenging questions, detailed hints, and comprehensive explanations. Sharpen your skills and improve your scores. Prepare effectively for your management career goals!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

In a scenario where the average of a set is needed, which component plays a critical role?

The total number of elements
The highest number in the set
Every number in the set
The lowest number in the set

The correct answer is: The total number of elements

In determining the average of a set, the critical component is every number in the set. The average is calculated by summing all the elements and then dividing that sum by the total number of elements in the set. This means that each individual number contributes to the total sum, which is essential for calculating the average accurately. While the total number of elements is indeed important, it is the inclusion of every number that allows for the correct calculation of the average. The formula for the average directly incorporates both the sum of all numbers and the total count of numbers, highlighting the significance of every element in the set. Thus, focusing solely on the total number of elements without taking into account all the individual values would not yield a representative average. Each number impacts the outcome, making it vital for the average calculation.