The mean of 9 different test scores ranging from 0 to 100 is 85. The median is 80. All test scores are whole numbers. Determine the greatest possible range between the highest and lowest possible test scores.

User Icon for DaOne DaOne answered
1 year ago

Let $a$ be the average of all but the median test score, so $a$ is the average of the 8 lowest test scores.

We have $8a + 80 = 9(85)$, so $a = 65$.

The greatest possible range between the highest and lowest possible test scores is $100 - (65 - 1) = \boxed{36}$.