- In a flock of 12 600 sheep, the ratio of males to females is \(1:20\).
- The weights of the male sheep are normally distributed with a mean of 76.2 kg and a standard deviation of 6.8 kg.
- In the flock, 15 of the male sheep each weigh more than \(x\) kg.
- Find the value of \(x\). (4 marks)
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- The weights of the female sheep are also normally distributed but have a smaller mean and smaller standard deviation than the weights of male sheeр.
- Explain whether it could be expected that 300 of the females from the flock each weigh more than \(x\) kg, where \(x\) is the value found in part (a). (1 mark)
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Statistics, 2ADV S3 2025 HSC 8 MC
The minimum daily temperature, in degrees, of a town each year follows a normal distribution with its mean equal to its standard deviation. The minimum daily temperature was recorded over one year.
What percentage of the recorded minimum daily temperatures was above zero degrees?
- 16%
- 50%
- 68%
- 84%
Statistics, 2ADV S3 2024 HSC 23
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.
- By calculating a \(z\)-score, find the percentage of scores that are between 58 and 70. (2 marks)
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- Explain why the percentage of scores between 46 and 70 is twice your answer to part (a). (1 mark)
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- 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)
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Statistics, 2ADV S3 2023 HSC 23
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 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)
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Statistics, 2ADV S3 2021 HSC 32
In a particular city, the heights of adult females and the heights of adult males are each normally distributed.
Information relating to two females from that city is given in Table 1.
The means and standard deviations of adult females and males, in centimetres, are given in Table 2.
A selected male is taller than 84% of the population of adult males in this city.
By first labelling the normal distribution curve below with the heights of the two females given in Table 1, calculate the height of the selected male, in centimetres, correct to two decimal places. (4 marks)
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Statistics, STD2 S5 2021 HSC 8 MC
On a test, Zac's mark corresponded to a `z`-score of 2. The test scores had a mean of 63 and a standard deviation of 8.
What was Zac's actual mark on the test?
- 65
- 67
- 73
- 79
Statistics, STD2 S5 2019 HSC 38
In a particular country, the birth weight of babies is normally distributed with a mean of 3000 grams. It is known that 95% of these babies have a birth weight between 1600 grams and 4400 grams.
One of these babies has a birth weight of 3497 grams. What is the `z`-score of this baby's birth weight? (2 marks)
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Statistics, STD2 S5 2018 HSC 27e
Joanna sits a Physics test and a Biology test.
- Joanna’s mark in the Physics test is 70. The mean mark for this test is 58 and the standard deviation is 8.
Calculate the `z`-score for Joanna’s mark in this test. (1 mark)
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- In the Biology test, the mean mark is 64 and the standard deviation is 10.
Joanna’s `z`-score is the same in both the Physics test and the Biology test.
What is her mark in the Biology test? (2 marks)
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Statistics, STD2 S5 2017 HSC 13 MC
The heights of Year 12 girls are normally distributed with a mean of 165 cm and a standard deviation of 5.5 cm.
What is the `z`-score for a height of 154 cm?
A. `−2`
B. `−0.5`
C. `0.5`
D. `2`
Statistics, STD2 S5 2016 HSC 30d
The formula to calculate `z`-scores can be rearranged to give
`mu = x - σz`
| where | `mu` is the mean |
| `x` is the score | |
| `σ` is the standard deviation | |
| `z` is the `z`-score | |
- In an examination, Aaron achieved a score of 88, which corresponds to a `z`-score of 2.4.
Substitute these values into the rearranged formula above to form an equation. (1 mark)
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- In the same examination, Brock achieved a score of 52, which corresponds to a `z`-score of –1.2.
Using this information, form another equation and solve it simultaneously with the equation from part (i) to find the values of `mu` and `σ`. (3 marks)
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Statistics, STD2 S5 2016 HSC 13 MC
The speed limit outside a school is 40 km/h. Year 11 students measured the speed of passing vehicles over a period of time. They found the set of data to be normally distributed with a mean speed of 36 km/h and a standard deviation of 2 km/h.
What percentage of the vehicles passed the school at a speed greater than 40 km/h?
- `text(2.5%)`
- `text(5%)`
- `text(47.5%)`
- `text(95%)`
Statistics, STD2 S5 SM-Bank 1 MC
The head circumference (in cm) of a population of infant boys is normally distributed with a mean of 49.5 cm and a standard deviation of 1.5 cm.
Four hundred of these boys are selected at random and each boy’s head circumference is measured.
The number of these boys with a head circumference of less than 48.0 cm is closest to
- `3`
- `10`
- `64`
- `272`
Statistics, STD2 S5 2015 HSC 28b
The results of two tests are normally distributed. The mean and standard deviation for each test are displayed in the table.
Kristoff scored 74 in Mathematics and 80 in English. He claims that he has performed better in English.
Is Kristoff correct? Justify your answer using appropriate calculations. (2 marks)
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Statistics, STD2 S5 2015 HSC 20 MC
A machine produces cylindrical pipes. The mean of the diameters of the pipes is 8 cm and the standard deviation is 0.04 cm.
Assuming a normal distribution, what percentage of cylindrical pipes produced will have a diameter less than 7.96 cm?
- `text(16%)`
- `text(32%)`
- `text(34%)`
- `text(68%)`
Statistics, STD2 S5 2005 HSC 26c
The weights of boxes of Brekky Bicks are normally distributed. The mean is 754 grams and the standard deviation is 2 grams.
- What is the `z`-score of a box of Brekky Bicks with a weight of 754 g? (1 mark)
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- What is the weight of a box that has a `z`-score of –1? (1 mark)
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- Brekky Bicks boxes are labelled as having a weight of 750 g. What percentage of boxes will have a weight less than 750 g? (2 marks)
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Statistics, STD2 S5 SM-Bank 4 MC
The length of a type of ant is approximately normally distributed with a mean of 4.8 mm and a standard deviation of 1.2 mm.
A standardised ant length of `z\ text(= −0.5)` corresponds to an actual ant length of
A. ` text(2.4 mm)`
B. `text(3.6 mm)`
C. `text(4.2 mm)`
D. `text(5.4 mm)`
Statistics, STD2 S5 SM-Bank 3 MC
The time, in hours, that each student spent sleeping on a school night was recorded for `1550` secondary-school students. The distribution of these times was found to be approximately normal with a mean of 7.4 hours and a standard deviation of 0.7 hours.
How many students would you expect to spend more than 8.1 hours sleeping on a school night?
You may assume for normally distributed data that:
-
- `text(68%)` of scores have `z`-scores between `–1` and `1`
- `text(95%)` of scores have `z`-scores between `–2` and `2`
- `text(99.7%)` of scores have `z`-scores between `–3` and `3`.
A. `16`
B. `248`
C. `1302`
D. `1510`
Algebra, STD2 A2 2007 HSC 27b
A clubhouse uses four long-life light globes for five hours every night of the year. The purchase price of each light globe is $6.00 and they each cost `$d` per hour to run.
- Write an equation for the total cost (`$c`) of purchasing and running these four light globes for one year in terms of `d`. (2 marks)
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- Find the value of `d` (correct to three decimal places) if the total cost of running these four light globes for one year is $250. (1 mark)
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- If the use of the light globes increases to ten hours per night every night of the year, does the total cost double? Justify your answer with appropriate calculations. (1 mark)
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- The manufacturer’s specifications state that the expected life of the light globes is normally distributed with a standard deviation of 170 hours.
What is the mean life, in hours, of these light globes if 97.5% will last up to 5000 hours? (1 mark)
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Statistics, STD2 S5 2007 HSC 25d
The results of two class tests are normally distributed. The means and standard deviations of the tests are displayed in the table.
- Stuart scored 63 in Test 1 and 62 in Test 2. He thinks that he has performed better in Test 1. Do you agree? Justify your answer using appropriate calculations. (2 marks)
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- If 150 students sat for Test 2, how many students would you expect to have scored less than 64? (2 marks)
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Statistics, STD2 S5 2008 HSC 28a
The following graph indicates `z`-scores of ‘height-for-age’ for girls aged 5 – 19 years.
- What is the `z`-score for a six year old girl of height 120 cm? (1 mark)
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- Rachel is 10 ½ years of age.
(1) If 2.5% of girls of the same age are taller than Rachel, how tall is she? (1 mark)
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(2) Rachel does not grow any taller. At age 15 ½, what percentage of girls of the same age will be taller than Rachel? (2 marks)
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- What is the average height of an 18 year old girl? (1 mark)
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For adults (18 years and older), the Body Mass Index is given by
`B = m/h^2` where `m = text(mass)` in kilograms and `h = text(height)` in metres.
The medically accepted healthy range for `B` is `21 <= B <= 25`.
- What is the minimum weight for an 18 year old girl of average height to be considered healthy? (2 marks)
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- The average height, `C`, in centimetres, of a girl between the ages of 6 years and 11 years can be represented by a line with equation
`C = 6A + 79` where `A` is the age in years.
(1) For this line, the gradient is 6. What does this indicate about the heights of girls aged 6 to 11? (1 mark)
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(2) Give ONE reason why this equation is not suitable for predicting heights of girls older than 12. (1 mark)
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Statistics, STD2 S5 2011 HSC 27c
Two brands of light bulbs are being compared. For each brand, the life of the light bulbs is normally distributed.
- One of the Brand B light bulbs has a life of 400 hours.
What is the `z`-score of the life of this light bulb? (1 mark)
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- A light bulb is considered defective if it lasts less than 400 hours. The following claim is made:
‘Brand A light bulbs are more likely to be defective than Brand B light bulbs.’
Is this claim correct? Justify your answer, with reference to `z`-scores or standard deviations or the normal distribution. (2 marks)
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Statistics, STD2 S5 2009 HSC 25d
In Broken Hill, the maximum temperature for each day has been recorded. The mean of these maximum temperatures during spring is 25.8°C, and their standard deviation is 4.2° C.
- What temperature has a `z`-score of –1? (1 mark)
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- What percentage of spring days in Broken Hill would have maximum temperatures between 21.6° C and 38.4°C?
You may assume that these maximum temperatures are normally distributed and that
-
• 68% of maximum temperatures have `z`-scores between –1 and 1
• 95% of maximum temperatures have `z`-scores between –2 and 2
• 99.7% of maximum temperatures have `z`-scores between –3 and 3. (3 marks)
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Statistics, STD2 S5 2013 HSC 29b
Ali’s class sits two Geography tests. The results of her class on the first Geography test are shown.
`58,\ \ 74,\ \ 65,\ \ 66,\ \ 73,\ \ 71,\ \ 72,\ \ 74,\ \ 62,\ \ 70`
The mean was 68.5 for the first test.
- Calculate the standard deviation for the first test. Give your answer correct to one decimal place. (1 mark)
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- On the second Geography test, the mean for the class was 74.4 and the standard deviation was 12.4.
Ali scored 62 on the first test. Calculate the mark that she needed to obtain in the second test to ensure that her performance relative to the class was maintained. (3 marks)
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Statistics, STD2 S5 2010 HSC 24c
The marks in a class test are normally distributed. The mean is 100 and the standard deviation is 10.
- Jason's mark is 115. What is his `z`-score? (1 mark)
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- Mary has a `z`-score of 0. What mark did she achieve in the test? (1 mark)
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- What percentage of marks lie between 80 and 110?
You may assume the following:
• 68% of marks have a `z`-score between –1 and 1
• 95% of marks have a `z`-score between –2 and 2
• 99.7% of marks have a `z`-score between –3 and 3. (2 marks)
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