The deviations from a mean of values from a set of data are -2, (m – 1), (m² + 1), -1, 2, (2m – 1) and -2. Find the possible values of m.

JAMB Mathematics 2024 279 views
Source: JAMB · 2024

The deviations from a mean of values from a set of data are -2, (m – 1), (m² + 1), -1, 2, (2m – 1) and -2. Find the possible values of m.

  1. -3 and 4
  2. 5 and 4
  3. 2 and 3
  4. -4 and 1 ✓
Explanation

Deviations from the mean always add up to zero.

Sum: -2 + (m – 1) + (m² + 1) – 1 + 2 + (2m – 1) – 2 = m² + 3m – 4.

Set it to zero: m² + 3m – 4 = 0, so (m + 4)(m – 1) = 0. Therefore m = -4 or m = 1.

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