Example 2. The mean of the following data is 14. Find the value of k.
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Answer:k=6
Step-by-step solution
Step 1: Construct the calculation table for direct method
To find the mean, we multiply each value xi by its corresponding frequency fi to get fixi. Adding the frequencies gives ∑fi=7+k+8+4+5=24+k. Adding the products gives ∑fixi=35+10k+120+80+125=360+10k.
Step 2: Apply the mean formula
The formula for the mean is xˉ=∑fi∑fixi. We substitute the given mean xˉ=14, ∑fi=24+k, and ∑fixi=360+10k into the equation.
Step 3: Solve for k
Cross-multiplying gives 14(24+k)=360+10k, which simplifies to 336+14k=360+10k. Transposing 10k to the left side and 336 to the right side yields 14k−10k=360−336, so 4k=24. Dividing both sides by 4 gives k=6.