The mean of the numbers $a, b, 8,5$ and 10 is 6 and the variance is 6.80 , then the possible values of $a$…

The mean of the numbers $a, b, 8,5$ and 10 is 6 and the variance is 6.80 , then the possible values of $a$ and $b$ are
  1. $a=2, b=3$
  2. $a=4, b=5$
  3. $a=1, b=3$
  4. $a=3, b=4$

Solution

Given data, $a, b, 8,5,10$ $\therefore \quad$ Mean $=\frac{a+b+8+5+10}{5}$ $6=\frac{a+b+23}{5}$ $\Rightarrow \quad a+b=7$ ...(i) Variance $=\frac{(a-6)^2+(b-6)^2+(8-6)^2+(5-6)^2+(10-6)^2}{5}$ $\Rightarrow 6.80=\frac{a^2+36-12 a+b^2+36-12 b+4+1+16}{5}$ $\begin{array}{ll}\Rightarrow & 34=a^2+b^2-12 a-12 b+93 \\ \Rightarrow & a^2+b^2-12(a+b)=-59\end{array}$ $\begin{array}{rrr}\Rightarrow & a^2+b^2-12(7) & =-59 \\ \Rightarrow & a^2+b^2 =25\end{array}$ $\Rightarrow \quad a^2+(7-a)^2=25$ [from Eq. (i), $b=7-a$ ] $\begin{array}{ll}\Rightarrow & 2 a^2+49-14 a=25 \\ \Rightarrow & 2 a^2-14 a+24=0\end{array}$ $\Rightarrow \quad a^2-7 a+12=0$ $(a-4)(a-3)=0$ $\Rightarrow \quad a=4$ or $a=3$ If $a=3 \Rightarrow b=7-3=4$

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2021 (23 Aug Shift 2)

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