The table shows the frequency of values in a data set. Value Frequency 19 7 21 1 23 7 25...
GMAT Problem-Solving and Data Analysis : (PS_DA) Questions
The table shows the frequency of values in a data set.
| Value | Frequency |
|---|---|
| 19 | 7 |
| 21 | 1 |
| 23 | 7 |
| 25 | 4 |
What is the minimum value of the data set?
1. TRANSLATE the frequency table information
- Given information from the table:
- Value 19 occurs 7 times in the data set
- Value 21 occurs 1 time in the data set
- Value 23 occurs 7 times in the data set
- Value 25 occurs 4 times in the data set
- What this tells us: The data set contains the values 19, 21, 23, and 25
2. INFER what the question is asking
- "Minimum value" means the smallest number that appears in the data set
- Frequency (how often a value occurs) doesn't change which value is smallest
- We need to compare the actual values: 19, 21, 23, 25
3. Identify the smallest value
- Comparing our four values: 19, 21, 23, 25
- The smallest of these numbers is 19
Answer: 19
Why Students Usually Falter on This Problem
Most Common Error Path:
Conceptual confusion about frequency vs. value: Students see that 21 has frequency 1 (the smallest frequency) and incorrectly think this makes 1 the minimum value of the data set, or that the value with the lowest frequency is somehow the "minimum."
This may lead them to answer 1 or become confused about what the question is actually asking.
Second Most Common Error:
Weak TRANSLATE skill: Students misread the table structure and don't clearly understand that the "Value" column shows the actual numbers in the data set, while "Frequency" just tells us how many times each value appears.
This leads to confusion and guessing among the available values.
The Bottom Line:
The key insight is recognizing that in a frequency table, the minimum value is simply the smallest number in the "Value" column - it has nothing to do with which value appears most or least frequently.