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8.05 Understanding z-scores

Worksheet
Likelihood of events
1

A data set is approximately normally distributed. Let x and y be scores from the data set where x has a z-score of 3 and y has a z-score of 2.

a

State the event that is less likely to occur:

  • Event 1: Randomly selecting a score in the data set greater than x.

  • Event 2: Randomly selecting a score in the data set greater than y.

b

State the event that is less likely to occur:

  • Event 3: Randomly selecting a score in the data set less than y.

  • Event 4: Randomly selecting a score in the data set less than x.

2

A data set is approximately normally distributed. Let x and y be scores from the data set where x has a z-score of 4.17 and y has a z-score of 4.73.

a

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 1: Randomly selecting a score in the data set greater than y.

  • Event 2: Randomly selecting a score in the data set greater than x.

b

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 3: Randomly selecting a score in the data set less than x.

  • Event 4: Randomly selecting a score in the data set less than y.

3

A data set is approximately normally distributed. Let x and y be scores from the data set where x has a z-score of -2 and y has a z-score of -3. Determine which of the following event is most likely to occur:

  • Randomly selecting a score in the data set less than x.

  • Randomly selecting a score in the data set less than y.

  • Randomly selecting a score in the data set greater than y.

  • Randomly selecting a score in the data set greater than x.

4

A data set is approximately normally distributed. Let x and y be scores from the data set where x has a z-score of 2 and y has a z-score of -1.

a

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 1: Randomly selecting a score in the data set that is less than y.

  • Event 2: Randomly selecting a score in the data set that is more than x.

b

State the event that is less likely to occur:

  • Event 3: Randomly selecting a score in the data set that is more than y.

  • Event 4: Randomly selecting a score in the data set that is less than x.

5

The heights of sunflowers at a nursery are approximately normally distributed with mean 159\text{ cm} and standard deviation 28\text{ cm}. The heights and their z-scores are given in the table:

\text{Height (cm)}268.291.8
z\text{-score}3.9-2.4

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 1: Randomly selecting a sunflower from the nursery that's taller than 91.8\text{ cm}.

  • Event 2: Randomly selecting a sunflower from the nursery that's shorter than 268.2\text{ cm}.

6

A data set is approximately normally distributed with mean 2 and standard deviation 2. Both 3.64 and 2.54 are scores from the data set.

a

Find the value of the z-score that corresponds to a score of 3.64.

b

Find the value of the z-score that corresponds to a score of 2.54.

c

State the event that is less likely to occur:

  • Event 1: Randomly selecting a score in the data set greater than 2.54.

  • Event 2: Randomly selecting a score in the data set greater than 3.64.

d

State the event that is less likely to occur:

  • Event 3: Randomly selecting a score in the data set less than 2.54.

  • Event 4: Randomly selecting a score in the data set less than 3.64.

7

A data set is approximately normally distributed with mean -8 and standard deviation 2. Both -14.86 and -14.4 are scores from the data set.

a

Find the value of the z-score that corresponds to a score of -14.86.

b

Find the value of the z-score that corresponds to a score of -14.4

c

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 1: Randomly selecting a score in the data set less than -14.86.

  • Event 2: Randomly selecting a score in the data set less than -14.4.

d

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 3: Randomly selecting a score in the data set greater than -14.86.

  • Event 4: Randomly selecting a score in the data set greater than -14.4.

8

A data set is approximately normally distributed with mean 20 and standard deviation 4.

a

Complete the table below by finding the rest of the z-scores:

\text{Scores}3.6829.962.7630.2
z\text{-scores}-4.082.49
b

Determine which of the following events is the least likely to occur:

  • Randomly selecting a score in the data set more than 30.2.

  • Randomly selecting a score in the data set more than 29.96.

  • Randomly selecting a score in the data set more than 2.76.

  • Randomly selecting a score in the data set more than 3.68.

c

State the event that is less likely to occur:

  • Event 1: Randomly selecting a score in the data set between 2.76 and 30.2.

  • Event 2: Randomly selecting a score in the data set between 3.68 and 29.96.

d

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 3: Randomly selecting a score in the data set that is less than 3.68 or greater than 29.96.

  • Event 4: Randomly selecting a score in the data set that is less than 2.76 or greater than 30.2.

Applications
9

The finish times for a half-marathon are approximately normally distributed. Two runners completed the half-marathon in 151 and 102 minutes respectively. A finish time of 151 minutes has a z-score of 1 and a finish time of 102 minutes has a z-score of - 2.

a

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 1: A randomly chosen runner completed the half-marathon in less than 102 minutes.

  • Event 2: A randomly chosen runner completed the half-marathon in more than 151 minutes.

b

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 3: A randomly chosen runner completed the half-marathon in more than 102 minutes.

  • Event 4: A randomly chosen runner completed the half-marathon in less than 151 minutes.

10

The amount of time spent waiting in the line at the supermarket checkout is approximately normally distributed.

The z-scores of the waiting times of four customers, represented by the letters K, L, M, and N are given in the table below:

\text{Customer}KLMN
z\text{-score}-1.130.62-1.620.94
a

Determine which of the following events is the least likely to occur:

  • Waiting longer than N.

  • Waiting longer than L.

  • Waiting longer than K.

  • Waiting longer than M.

b

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 1: Waiting longer than K but less than L.

  • Event 2: Waiting longer than M but less than N.

c

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 3: Waiting less than K or longer than L.

  • Event 4: Waiting less than M or longer than N.

11

The class exam results for a particular subject is approximately normally distributed. The names of four different students along with the z-scores for their exam results are given in the table below:

\text{Student}\text{Maximilian}\text{Tracy}\text{Neil}\text{Eileen}
z\text{-score}-2.741.53-2.811.75
a

It is least likely to randomly select a student that scored higher in the exam than which student?

b

State the event that is less likely to occur:

  • Event 1: Randomly selecting a student who scored in the exam between Maximilian and Tracy.

  • Event 2: Randomly selecting a student who scored in the exam between Neil and Eileen.

c

State the event that is less likely to occur:

  • Event 3: Randomly selecting a student who scored less than Neil or greater than Eileen.

  • Event 4: Randomly selecting a student who scored less than Maximilian or greater than Tracy.

12

The number of days of sick leave taken by employees is approximately normally distributed. The z-scores of the number of sick days taken by four employees are shown in the table below:

\text{Employee}\text{Xavier}\text{Amelia}\text{Peter}\text{Fiona}
z\text{-score}-3.441.77-3.691.89
a

It is most likely to randomly select an employee who took more sick days than which employee?

b

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 1: Randomly selecting an employee whose sick days were less than Xavier or greater than Amelia.

  • Event 2: Randomly selecting an employee whose sick days were less than Peter or greater than Fiona.

13

A long-jump athlete performs several attempts in practice, achieving a mean jump of 151 \text{ cm} and a standard deviation of \\24 \text{ cm}. The lengths of two of her attempts and their z-scores are given in the table:

\text{Length (cm)}21171.8
z\text{-scores}2.5-3.3

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 1: The athlete jumping a length less than 211\text{ cm}.

  • Event 2: The athlete jumping a length greater than 71.8\text{ cm}.

14

The number of babies born in a country each day are approximately normally distributed with mean 167 and standard deviation 16. The number of babies born on two consecutive days along with their z-scores are provided below:

\text{Number of newborns}215103
z\text{-scores}3-4
a

State the event that is less likely to occur:

  • Event 1: The number of babies born the following day is greater than 215.

  • Event 2: The number of babies born the following day is less than 103.

b

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 1: The number of babies born the following day is less than 215.

  • Event 2: The number of babies born the following day is greater than 103.

15

The heights of office buildings in a particular city is approximately normally distributed with mean 55\text{ m} and standard deviation 2\text{ m}. Two particular buildings have heights of 51.3\text{ m} and 51.08\text{ m}.

a

Find the value of the z-score that corresponds to a height of 51.3\text{ m}.

b

Find the value of the z-score that corresponds to a height of 51.08\text{ m}.

c

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 1: A randomly chosen building is taller than 51.08\text{ m}.

  • Event 2: A randomly chosen building is shorter than 51.3\text{ m}.

d

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 3: A randomly chosen building is taller than 51.3\text{ m}.

  • Event 4: A randomly chosen building is shorter than 51.08\text{ m}.

16

The lengths of Swordfish are approximately normally distributed with mean 230 \text{ cm} and standard deviation 40 \text{ cm}.

a

The lengths of recently tagged Swordfish were recorded. Complete the table below by finding the remaining z-scores:

\text{Lengths (cm)}187.6360152379.6
z\text{-scores}-1.063.25
b

Determine which of the following events is the least likely to occur:

  • Capturing a Swordfish that is more than 152\text{ cm}.

  • Capturing a Swordfish that is more than 379.6 \text{ cm}.

  • Capturing a Swordfish that is more than 187.6 \text{ cm}.

  • Capturing a Swordfish that is more than 360\text{ cm}.

c

State the event that is less likely to occur:

  • Event 1: Capturing a Swordfish that is between 187.6\text{ cm} and 360\text{ cm}.

  • Event 2: Capturing a swordfish that is between 152 \text{ cm} and 379.6\text{ cm}.

d

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 3: Capturing a Swordfish that is less than 152\text{ cm} or greater than 379.6\text{ cm}.

  • Event 4: Capturing a swordfish that is less than 187.6 \text{ cm} or greater than 360\text{ cm}.

17

The profit a restaurant earns each day is approximately normally distributed with mean \$580 and standard deviation \$20. In the last two days, the restaurant profited \$590.40 and \$567.20 respectively.

a

Find the z-score that corresponds to a profit of \$590.40.

b

Find the z-score that corresponds to a profit of \$567.20.

c

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 1: The restaurant profits more than \$590.40 today.

  • Event 2: The restaurant profits less than \$567.20 today.

d

State the event that is less likely to occur:

  • Event 3: The restaurant profits less than \$590.40 today.

  • Event 4: The restaurant profits more than \$567.20 today.

18

The times at which individuals visit a cafe are recorded every hour. The data set is approximately normally distributed with the busiest time at 10:00 am and a standard deviation of 14 minutes.

a

Complete the following table by finding the remaining z-scores:

\text{Times}\text{10:14 am}\text{10:28 am}\text{10:42 am}
z\text{-scores}
b

The cafe owner has a limited number of cakes. To maximise their chance of sales, state the 14-minute interval between 10 am and 11 am that they should have the cakes available.

19

A fast food restaurant records the arrival time of every customer at the drive thru each morning. The data set is approximately normally distributed with the busiest time at 11:00 am and a standard deviation of 22 minutes.

a

Complete the following table by finding the z-scores of each arrival time:

\text{Times}\text{9:54 am}\text{10:16 am}\text{10:38 am}
z\text{-scores}
b

The restaurant needs to have extra staff on hand during the busiest time period. State the 22-minute interval between 9 am to 11 am that is the busiest.

20

The arrival time of a particular train is normally distributed with an expected arrival of \text{} \\5:00 pm and a standard deviation of 14 minutes.

a

Complete the following table by finding the remaining z-scores:

\text{Times}\text{4:32 pm}\text{5:14 pm}\text{5:42 pm}
z\text{-scores}
b

The train scheduled to arrive at 5:00 pm. State the 28-minute time interval between 4 pm to 5 pm in which the train will most likely arrive.

21

A data set is approximately normally distributed with a standard deviation of 1. Both 10.07 and 10.3 are scores from the data set. The value of 10.07 has a z-score of 4.07.

a

What is the mean of the data set?

b

Find the value of the z-score that corresponds to a score of 10.3.

c

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 1: Randomly selecting a score in the dataset greater than 10.07.

  • Event 2: Randomly selecting a score in the dataset greater than 10.3.

d

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 3: Randomly selecting a score in the dataset less than 10.3.

  • Event 4: Randomly selecting a score in the dataset less than 10.07.

22

The amount of soft drink in a can is normally distributed with standard deviation 0.4\text{ mL}. Two cans contain 373.96\text{ mL} and 374.04\text{ mL} of soft drink. A can with 373.96\text{ mL} of soft drink has a \\ z-score of -2.6.

a

What is the average volume of soft drink in a can?

b

Find the z-score for a can with 374.04\text{ mL} of soft drink.

c

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 1: Purchasing a can of soft drink with less than 374.04 \text{ mL}.

  • Event 2: Purchasing a can of soft drink with less than 373.96\text{ mL}.

d

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 3: Purchasing a can of soft drink with more than 374.04\text{ mL}.

  • Event 4: Purchasing a can of soft drink with more than 373.96\text{ mL}.

23

Sharon owns a farm with pet chickens. The number of eggs the chickens lay on a given day is approximately normally distributed with standard deviation 9.

a

On Monday, the chickens laid 116 eggs which has a z-score of 3. What is the average number of eggs the chickens lay on a given day?

b

Complete the table by finding the rest of the z-scores:

MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
\text{Eggs}1161258071
z\text{-scores}34
c

Next week, Sharon wants to bake cakes for a work function using the eggs laid that will be laid tomorrow. How many eggs is Sharon most likely to obtain: between 116 to 125 or between 71 to 80?

24

The time it takes for an athlete to complete the bicycle stage of a triathlon is approximately normally distributed with standard deviation 10 minutes. The elapsed times for two athletes at each stage is recorded in the table below:

\text{Athlete } 1\text{Swim (mins)}\text{Bicycle (mins)}\text{Run (mins)}
\text{Deborah}47134202
\text{Bianca}49137201
a

The time it takes Deborah to complete the bicycle stage has a z-score of 0.5. Find the average time it takes for an athlete to complete the bicycle stage of the triathlon.

b

Find the z-score for the time it takes Bianca to complete the bicycle stage of the triathlon.

c

State the event that is less likely to occur:

  • Event 1: Randomly choosing an athlete that completed the bicycle stage slower than 88 minutes.

  • Event 2: Randomly choosing an athlete that completed the bicycle stage slower than 87 minutes.

d

State the event that is less likely to occur:

  • Event 3: Randomly choosing an athlete that completed the bicycle stage quicker than 88 minutes.

  • Event 4: Randomly choosing an athlete that completed the bicycle stage quicker than 87 minutes.

25

The number of coffees a cafe sells in a weekday is approximately normally distributed with a standard deviation of 9 coffees.

a

On Monday, the cafe sells 144 cups of coffee which has a z-score of 3. Find the average number of coffees the cafe sells on a weekday.

b

Complete the following table by finding the rest of the z-scores:

MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
\text{Coffees}1441539990
z\text{-scores}34
c

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 1: On a Friday, the number of coffees sold by the cafe will be between 90 and 153.

  • Event 2: On a Friday, the number of coffees sold by the cafe will be between 99 and 144.

d

State the event that is more likely to occur:

  • Event 3: On a Friday, the number of coffees sold by the cafe will be more than 144.

  • Event 4: On a Friday, the number of coffees sold by the cafe will be more than 153.

  • Event 5: On a Friday, the number of coffees sold by the cafe will be more than 90.

  • Event 6: On a Friday, the number of coffees sold by the cafe will be more than 99.

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Outcomes

MS2-12-2

analyses representations of data in order to make inferences, predictions and draw conclusions

MS2-12-7

solves problems requiring statistical processes, including the use of the normal distribution and the correlation of bivariate data

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