AMC10 2021 10B, Problem 19

Suppose that $S$ is a finite set of positive integers. If the greatest integer in $S$ is removed from $S$, then the average value (arithmetic mean) of the integers remaining is $32$. If the least integer in $S$ is also removed, then the average value of the integers remaining is $35$. If the greatest integer is then returned to the set, the average value of the integers rises to $40$. The greatest integer in the original set $S$ is $72$ greater than the least integer in $S$. What is the average value of all the integers in the set $S$?

Solution: Let the lowest value be $L$ and the highest $G$, and let the sum be $Z$ and the amount of numbers $n$. We have $\frac{Z-G}{n-1}=32$, $\frac{Z-L-G}{n-2}=35$, $\frac{Z-L}{n-1}=40$, and $G=L+72$. Clearing denominators gives $Z-G=32n-32$, $Z-L-G=35n-70$, and $Z-L=40n-40$. We use $G=L+72$ to turn the first equation into $Z-L=32n+40$. Since $Z-L=40(n-1)$ we substitute it into the equation which gives $n=10$. Turning the second into $Z-2L=35n+2$ using $G=L+72$ we see $L=8$ and $Z=368$ so the average is $\frac{Z}{n}=\fbox{36.8}$

Answer: 36.8