Question

Given the set: `{2,-1/2,-3/4,x,7/2}`, for what x would the mean of the set be 1/2?

Answer 1

`x=-7/4`

Explanation:

By definition, the mean or average of a set `{x_n}` is given by

`bar x = 1/nsum_(i=1)^nx_i`.

`therefore 1/2=1/5(2-1/2-3/4+x+7/2)`

`therefore 5/2=x+17/4`

`thereforex=-7/4`.