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Statistics, STD2 S5 2024 HSC 35

A random variable is normally distributed with mean 0 and standard deviation 1. The table gives the probability that this random variable is less than \(z\).

\begin{array} {|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|}
\hline
\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} z \rule[-1ex]{0pt}{0pt} & 0.6 & 0.7 & 0.8 & 0.9 & 1.0 & 1.1 & 1.2 & 1.3 & 1.4 \\
\hline
\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} \textit{Probability} \rule[-1ex]{0pt}{0pt} & 0.7257 & 0.7580 & 0.7881 & 0.8159 & 0.8413 & 0.8643 & 0.8849 & 0.9032 & 0.9192 \\
\hline
\end{array}

The probability values given in the table for different values of \(z\) are represented by the shaded area in the following diagram.
 

The scores in a university examination with a large number of candidates are normally distributed with mean 58 and standard deviation 15.

  1. By calculating a \(z\)-score, find the percentage of scores that are between 58 and 70.   (2 marks)
  2. Explain why the percentage of scores between 46 and 70 is twice your answer to part (a).   (1 mark)
  3. By using the values in the table above, find an approximate minimum score that a candidate would need to be placed in the top 10% of the candidates.   (2 marks)
Show Answers Only

a.   \(28.81%\)

b.   \(\text{Normal distribution is symmetrical about the mean (58).}\)

\(\text{Since 70 and 46 are both the same distance (12) from the mean, the}\)

\(\text{percentage of scores in this range will be twice the answer in part (a).}\)

c.   \(\text{Approx minimum score = 78%}\)

Show Worked Solution

a.   \(z\text{-score (58)}\ =\dfrac{x-\mu}{\sigma} = \dfrac{58-58}{15}=0\)

\(z\text{-score (70)}\ = \dfrac{70-58}{15}=0.8\)

\(\text{Using table:}\)

\(\text{% between 58–70}\ =0.7881-0.5=0.2881=28.81%\)
 

♦♦ Mean mark (a) 36%.

b.   \(\text{Normal distribution is symmetrical about the mean (58).}\)

\(\text{Since 70 and 46 are both the same distance (12) from the mean, the}\)

\(\text{percentage of scores in this range will be twice the answer in part (a).}\)
 

♦♦♦ Mean mark (b) 19%.

c.   \(z\text{-score 1.3 has a table value 0.9032}\)

\(1-0.9032=0.0968\ \Rightarrow\ \text{i.e. 9.68% of students score higher.}\)

\(\text{Find}\ x\ \text{for a}\ z\text{-score of 1.3:}\)

\(1.3\) \(=\dfrac{x-58}{15}\)  
\(x\) \(=1.3 \times 15 +58\)   
  \(=77.5\)  

 
\(\therefore\ \text{Approx minimum score = 78%}\)

♦♦ Mean mark (c) 30%.

Statistics, STD2 S5 2023 HSC 38

A random variable is normally distributed with a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1 . The table gives the probability that this random variable lies below `z` for some positive values of `z`.

The probability values given in the table are represented by the shaded area in the following diagram.
 

The weights of adult male koalas form a normal distribution with mean `mu` = 10.40 kg, and standard deviation `sigma` = 1.15 kg.

In a group of 400 adult male koalas, how many would be expected to weigh more than 11.93 kg?  (4 marks)

Show Answers Only

`37\ text{koalas*}`

`text{*36 or 36.72 koalas would also receive full marks}`

Show Worked Solution
`ztext{-score (11.93)}` `=(x-mu)/sigma`  
  `=(11.93-10.4)/1.15`  
  `=1.330`  

 
`Ptext{(Koala weighs > 11.93 kg)}\ = P(z>1.330)`

`text{Using the table:}`

`P(z>1.33)` `=1-0.9082`  
  `=0.0918`  
♦ Mean mark 39%.
`:.\ text{Expected koalas > 11.93 kg}` `=0.0918 xx 400`  
  `=36.72`  
  `=37\ text{koalas*}`  

 
`text{*36 or 36.72 koalas would also receive full marks}`

Statistics, STD2 S5 2022 HSC 13 MC

A random variable is normally distributed with mean 0 and standard deviation 1 . The table gives the probability that this random variable lies below `z` for some positive values of `z`.
 

The probability values given in the table are represented by the shaded area in the following diagram.

What is the probability that a normally distributed random variable with mean 0 and standard deviation 1 lies between 0 and 1.94 ?

  1. 0.0262
  2. 0.4738
  3. 0.5262
  4. 0.9738
Show Answers Only

`B`

Show Worked Solution

`P(z<1.94) = 0.9738`

`P(z<0) = 0.5`

`:. P(0.5<z<1.94) = 0.9738-0.5 = 0.4738`

`=> B`


♦♦♦ Mean mark 22%.

Statistics, STD2 S5 2021 HSC 38

A random variable is normally distributed with mean 0 and standard deviation 1. The table gives the probability that this random variable lies between 0 and `z` for different values of `z`.

 

The probability values given in the table for different values of `z` are represented by the shaded area in the following diagram.
 

  1. Using the table, show that the probability that a value from a random variable that is normally distributed with mean 0 and standard deviation 1 is greater than 0.3 is equal to 0.3821.  (1 mark)

  2. Birth weights are normally distributed with a mean of 3300 grams and a standard deviation of 570 grams. By first calculating a `z`-score, find how many babies, out of 1000 born, are expected to have a birth weight greater than 3471 grams.  (3 marks)

Show Answers Only
  1. `text(See Worked Solutions)`
  2. `382`
Show Worked Solution

a.   `P(z>0)=0.5`

♦♦♦ Mean mark part (a) 1%.
COMMENT: Note the Std2 and Advanced questions varied slightly but used the same table and graph.

`P(0<z<0.3)=0.1179`

`P(z>0.3) = 0.5-0.1179=0.3821`
 

b.   `z text{-score (3471)}` `=(x-mu)/sigma`
    `=(3471-3300)/570`
    `=0.3`

 
`P(z>0.3) = 0.3821\ \ text{(see part (a))}`
  

`:.\ text(Number of babies > 3471 grams)`  
`=1000 xx 0.3821`  
`=382\ \ text{(nearest whole)}`