CA Foundation · Quantitative Aptitude · Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion
A household buys onions, potatoes and tomatoes by spending ₹6,000 on each item in a month. The prices are ₹20, ₹30 and ₹60 per kg respectively. What is the average price paid per kg over all three items?
The average price is ₹30 per kg. Equal money is spent on each item, so the correct average is the harmonic mean of the prices. Total spend of ₹18,000 divided by 600 kg bought gives ₹30. The arithmetic mean of ₹36.67 is incorrect.
- A₹36.67
- B₹30Correct
- C₹40
- D₹25
Explanation
Quantities are 6000/20 = 300 kg, 6000/30 = 200 kg and 6000/60 = 100 kg, giving 600 kg in total. Total spend is ₹18,000, so average price = 18000/600 = ₹30. This equals the HM of 20, 30 and 60. The AM of ₹36.67 is wrong because the quantities bought differ.
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