One-variable data: Distributions and measures of center and spread SAT question

Choice B is correct. The histograms shown have the same shape, but data set A contains values between $20$ and $60$ and data set B contains values between $10$ and $50$. Thus, the mean of data set A is greater than the mean of data set B. Therefore, the smallest possible difference between the mean of data set A and the mean of data set B is the difference between the smallest possible mean of data set A and the greatest possible mean of data set B. In data set A, since there are $3$ integers in the interval greater than or equal to $20$ but less than $30$, $4$ integers greater than or equal to $30$ but less than $40$, $7$ integers greater than or equal to $40$ but less than $50$, and $9$ integers greater than or equal to $50$ but less than $60$, the smallest possible mean for data set A is $\frac{(3\cdot 20)+(4\cdot 30)+(7\cdot 40)+(9\cdot 50)}{23}$. In data set B, since there are $3$ integers greater than or equal to $10$ but less than $20$, $4$ integers greater than or equal to $20$ but less than $30$, $7$ integers greater than or equal to $30$ but less than $40$, and $9$ integers greater than or equal to $40$ but less than $50$, the largest possible mean for data set B is $\frac{(3\cdot 19)+(4\cdot 29)+(7\cdot 39)+(9\cdot 49)}{23}$. Therefore, the smallest possible difference between the mean of data set A and the mean of data set B is $\frac{(3\cdot 20)+(4\cdot 30)+(7\cdot 40)+(9\cdot 50)}{23}-\frac{(3\cdot 19)+(4\cdot 29)+(7\cdot 39)+(9\cdot 49)}{23}$, which is equivalent to $\frac{(3\cdot 20)-(3\cdot 19)+(4\cdot 30)-(4\cdot 29)+(7\cdot 40)-(7\cdot 39)+(9\cdot 50)-(9\cdot 49)}{23}$. This expression can be rewritten as $\frac{3(20-19)+4(30-29)+7(40-39)+9(50-49)}{23}$, or $\frac{23}{23}$, which is equal to $1$. Therefore, the smallest possible difference between the mean of data set A and the mean of data set B is $1$.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the smallest possible difference between the ranges, not the means, of the data sets.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the difference between the greatest possible mean, not the smallest possible mean, of data set A and the greatest possible mean of data set B.

Choice D is incorrect. This is the smallest possible difference between the sum of the values in data set A and the sum of the values in data set B, not the smallest possible difference between the means.