UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

If the average of two numbers is 20, their total sum must be 20 × 2 = 40. One of the numbers is given as 16. To find the other number, we subtract the known number from the total: 40 − 16 = 24. Therefore, the second number must be 24 so that the pair has an average of 20.

Option A:
Option A, 18, would result in a total of 34 when added to 16, which would give an average of 17, not 20. Thus, it underestimates the required second number.

Option B:
Option B, 20, would give a total of 36 and an average of 18, which again does not meet the given condition of average 20.

Option C:
Option C, 22, makes the total 38, leading to an average of 19, which is close but still not equal to 20.

Option D:
Option D maintains the correct relation: 16 + 24 = 40, and 40 ÷ 2 = 20, so the pair (16, 24) satisfies the stated average exactly.