Help with math problem?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>The weights of 10 bags of apples range from 2.75 pounds to 3.15 pounds. If w is the weight, in pounds, of one of these bags, which of the following must be true?</p>

<p>(A) |w-2.75|<0.2
(B) |w-2.95| <0.2
(C) |w+2.95| < 0.2
(D) |w-0.2| <2.75
(E) |w-10| < 2.95</p>

<p>(B) is the correct answer. If w is the weight, in pounds, of one of the bags of apples, then it must be true that 2.75< w <3.15, because the weights of the bags range from 2.75 pounds to 3.15 pounds. These inequalities are equivalent to |2.75 -2.95| <|w - 2.95|< |3.15 -2.95|, which are equivalent to -0.2 < |w -2.95|< 0.2. Using the definition of absolute value, you have |w-2.95| <0.2.</p>

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<p>I don't understand this. Where is the 2.95 coming from?</p>

2

<p>2.95 is the average of the two extremes.</p>

3

<p>thank you 10char</p>

4

<p>The SAT board explanation is poorly worded.</p>

<p>Try trial and error for this problem. Take the lower value 2.75 and see which of the choices work. You’ll find that (A), (B) and (D) work. Then take the highest value 3.15 and see which of (A), (B) and (D) work. Just (B).</p>

5

<p>If manipulating the numbers seems to be too confusing for you, just do it the way fogcity did it. That’s how I did it too.</p>