Multiple choice

In a certain class, some students donated cans of food to a local food bank. What was the average (arithmetic mean) number of cans donated per student in the class? 1. The students donated a total of 56 cans of food. 2. The total number of cans donated was 40 greater than the total number of students in the class.

  1. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.

  2. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.

  3. BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.

  4. EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.

  5. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Let C be total cans and S be total students. We want C/S. Statement 1: C = 56. We don't know S. Statement 2: C = S + 40. We have two variables and only one equation. Together: 56 = S + 40 => S = 16. Average = 56/16 = 3.5. Both are needed.

AI explanation

Statement 1 provides the total number of cans (56), but it lacks the total number of students, making it insufficient to find the average. Statement 2 states the total cans is 40 more than the total students, but without a concrete value for either variable, it is also insufficient. By combining both statements, you can write the equation Students + 40 = 56, meaning there are 16 students; dividing 56 cans by 16 students gives the average. Both statements together are sufficient, but neither statement alone is sufficient.

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