q: The average of seven numbers is 26. The average of first three numbers is 14 and the average of last three numbers is 19. What is the middle number?
Options:
(A) 25
(B) 83
(C) 29
(D) 32
(E) 34
a: Stream of consciousness: The total of seven numbers = 7X26 = 182
The total of first 3 and last 3 numbers is = 3 X 14+3 X 19 = 99
So, the middle number is (182 - 99 ) = 83 The answer is (B).

question: The number of people at Ovations Bar in the hour from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. was 20% greater than the number of people there from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The number of the people at the bar from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. was 10% more than the number there from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. If 121 people were at the bar from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., which of the following is the number of people in the bar from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.?
Options:
(A) 10
(B) 20
(C) 30
(D) 40
(E) 50
answer: Stream of consciousness: No of people from 10 - 11 is x
No of people from 11 - 12 is 11x/10
No of people from 12 to 1 is (6/5)(11x/10)
Given that 11x/10 + (6/5)(11x/10) = 121x / 50 = 121
Then x = 50 The answer is (E).

q: The speed of a boat in upstream is 60 kmph and the speed of the boat downstream is 80 kmph. Find the speed of the boat in still water and the speed of the stream?
Options:
(A) 70, 10 kmph
(B) 35, 27 kmph
(C) 50, 60 kmph
(D) 45, 55 kmph
(E) 45, 65 kmph
a: Stream of consciousness: Speed of the boat in still water = (60+80)/2 = 70 kmph. Speed of the stream = (80-60)/2 = 10 kmph The answer is (A).

question: An analyst will recommend a combination of 2 industrial stocks, 2 transportation stocks, and 2 utility stocks. If the analyst can choose from 5 industrial stocks, 4 transportation stocks, and 3 utility stocks, how many different combinations of 6 stocks are possible?
--
Options:
(A) 12
(B) 19
(C) 60
(D) 160
(E) 180
answer: Stream of consciousness: 5C2 * 4C2 * 3C2 = 10*6*3 = 180. The answer is (E).

q: What will come in place of the x in the following Number series? 2, 7, 27, 107, 427, x
Options:
(A) 1427
(B) 1607
(C) 1707
(D) 2047
(E) 2147
a: Stream of consciousness: 2
2 4 - 1 = 7
7 4 - 1 = 27
27 4 - 1 = 107
107 4 - 1 = 427
427 4 - 1 = 1707 The answer is (C).

q: If f(x) = x^4/(x^5 - 1), what is f(1/x) in terms of f(x)?
Options:
(A) f(x)
(B) 2*f(x)
(C) 1/f(x)
(D) -f(x)
(E) 2/f(x)
a:
Stream of consciousness: If x = 2 then f(x) = 16/31 and f(1/x) = -16/31 which is equal to -f(x) The answer is (D).