In a certain town, the average temperature for the first six days of a month was 41 °C. The sum of the temperatures recorded during the first five days alone was 201 °C. What was the temperature, in degrees Celsius, on the sixth day of that month?

Introduction / Context:

This question tests basic understanding of averages and sums. Average temperature questions are common in competitive exams because they require candidates to relate total sums, number of observations and missing values. Here, we know the average over six days and the sum of the first five days, and we must find the missing sixth value.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Average temperature for the first six days of the month = 41 °C.
• Sum of temperatures for the first five days of the month = 201 °C.
• Temperatures are measured in degrees Celsius.
• We assume that the “average” is the arithmetic mean.

Concept / Approach:

The average of a set of numbers is defined as total sum divided by the number of observations. If we know the average and the number of days, we can compute the total sum. Once we know the total for six days and the total for the first five days, the sixth day's temperature is simply the difference between these two sums.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

We can check our result by imagining actual numbers. Assume the first five days have temperatures that add exactly to 201 °C and the sixth day is 45 °C. Then the total for six days is 201 + 45 = 246 °C. Dividing 246 by 6 gives 41 °C, which matches the given average, confirming the correctness of the calculation.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option 40 °C would give a total sum of 201 + 40 = 241 °C, and the average would become 241 / 6, which is not 41 °C.

Option 46 °C would give a total sum of 201 + 46 = 247 °C, again not consistent with the given average.

Option 50 °C would make the total 201 + 50 = 251 °C, which also fails to give an average of 41 °C.

Common Pitfalls:

A common error is to average the options directly or to divide the sum of given information incorrectly. Always start from the basic formula total = average * number of observations and work step by step to avoid arithmetic mistakes.

Final Answer:

The temperature on the sixth day of the month was 45 °C.