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9.06 Calculations with the standard and general normal distributions

Worksheet
Calculations with the standard and general normal distributions
1

Using your calculator, find the value of k to four decimal places for the following probabilities:

a
The probability of a z-score being at most k is equal to 0.8031 in the standard normal distribution.
b
The probability of a z-score being greater than k is equal to 0.7934 in the standard normal distribution.
c
The probability of a z-score being at most k is equal to 0.218 in the standard normal distribution.
d
The probability of a z-score being greater than k is equal to 0.1562 in the standard normal distribution.
e

The probability of a z-score being greater than - k and at most k is equal to 0.6123 in the standard normal distribution.

f

The probability of a z-score being greater than - 2.11 and at most k is equal to 0.8273 in the standard normal distribution.

2

If X \sim N \left(20, 5^2 \right), use your calculator to find the value of k in the following parts:

a

P \left(X \lt k \right) = 0.65

b

P \left(X \gt k \right) = 0.45

c

P \left(k \lt X \lt 27 \right) = 0.89

d

P \left(21 \lt X \lt k \right) = 0.4

3

Find the area under the curve, to four decimal places, for each part of the standardised normal curves described below:

a
To the left of z = 1.45
b
To the right of z = 1.58
c
To the left of z = - 1.23
d
To the right of z = - 1.17
e
Between z = 1.52 and z = 1.87
f
Between 1.10 and 1.60 standard deviations above the mean.
4

Calculate the percentage of standardised data, to two decimal places, that is:

a
Greater than z = - 1.51
b
Between z = - 1.14 and z = 2.37
5

Calculate the probability, to four decimal places, that a z-score is:

a
Either at most - 1.08 or greater than 2.07
b
Greater than - 0.63 and at most 1.44
c
At most 1.60 given that it is greater than - 0.69
d
At most 1.03 given that it is less than 2.58
Quantiles and percentiles
6

For the standard normal variable X \sim N \left(0, 1\right), use a calculator to determine the following values to three decimal places:

a

The 0.7 quantile

b

The 65th percentile

c

The lowest score in the top 20 percent

7

Consider a normal distribution defined by X \sim N \left(50, 25\right). Use the 68-95-99.7 rule to answer the following questions:

a

Which value is equivalent to the 0.16 quantile?

b

Which value is equivalent to the 0.025 quantile?

c

Which value is equivalent to the 97.5th percentile?

8

The heights of a certain species of fully grown plants are thought to be normally distributed with a mean of 40 cm and a standard deviation of 1 cm. Use the 68-95-99.7 rule to answer the following questions:

a

What is the height of the shortest plant in the 84th percentile?

b

What is the height of the shortest plant in the 0.0015 quantile?

9

Consider the graph of a standard normal distribution showing the 68-95-99.7 rule:

a

Which value is the closest to the 0.5 quantile?

b

Which value is the closest to the 0.84 quantile?

c

Which value is the closest to the 16th percentile?

10

For a normal variable defined by X \sim N \left(100, 100\right), use a calculator to determine the following values to three decimal places:

a

The 0.2 quantile

b

The 90th percentile

c

The lowest score that is greater than the bottom 30 percent

11

If X \sim N \left(30, 4^2 \right), calculate:

a

The 0.5 quantile

b

The 0.83 quantile

c

The 35th percentile

12

A random variable is normally distributed such that X \sim N \left(50, 25\right). Find the X value for the 0.35 quantile.

13

Mensa is an organisation that only accepts members who score in the 98th percentile or above in an IQ test. Explain what a person has to do to get into Mensa.

Unknown mean or standard deviation
14

If X \sim N \left( \mu, 100 \right), use your calculator to find \mu if P \left( \mu \leq X \leq 20 \right) = 0.3013. Round your answer to two decimal places.

15

If X \sim N \left( \mu, 100 \right), use your calculator to find \mu if P \left( \mu \leq X \leq 30 \right) = 0.419. Round your answer to two decimal places.

16

If X \sim N \left( \mu, \sigma^2 \right), use your calculator to find \mu and \sigma if P \left(X \lt 70 \right) = 0.1817 and P \left (X \lt 80 \right) = 0.9655. Round your answers to two decimal places.

17

If X \sim N \left( \mu, \sigma^2 \right), use your calculator to find \mu and \sigma if P \left(X \lt 12 \right) = 0.2859 and P \left (X \lt 18 \right) = 0.8677. Round your answer to two decimal places.

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Outcomes

4.4.2.2

recognise features of the graph of the probability density function of the normal distribution with mean 𝜇 and standard deviation 𝜎 and the use of the standard normal distribution

4.4.2.3

calculate probabilities and quantiles associated with a given normal distribution using technology and use these to solve practical problems

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