Normal Distribution Practice

[30 marks]

1a. The lifetime, L , of light bulbs made by a company follows a normal [1

distribution. mark]
L is measured in hours. The normal distribution curve of L is shown below.

Write down the mean lifetime of the light bulbs.

Markscheme
5800 (A1) (C1)

1b. The standard deviation of the lifetime of the light bulbs is 850 hours. [2 marks]
Find the probability that 5000 ⩽ L ⩽ 6000 , for a randomly chosen light bulb.
 Markscheme
0.420 (0.419703...) (A2)(ft) (C2)

1c. The company states that 90% of the light bulbs have a lifetime of at least [3 marks]
k hours.
Find the value of k . Give your answer correct to the nearest hundred.

Markscheme
4710.68... (A2)(ft)
= 4700 (A1)(ft) (C3)

The weight, W , of bags of rice follows a normal distribution with mean 1000 g and
standard deviation 4 g.

2a. Find the probability that a bag of rice chosen at random weighs between [2 marks]
990 g and 1004 g.
 Markscheme

(M1)

Note: Award (M1) for approximate curve with 990 and 1004 in correct place.

0.835 (0.835135 … , 83.5%) (A1) (C2)

2b. 95% of the bags of rice weigh less than k grams. [2 marks]
Find the value of k.
 Markscheme

(M1)

Note: Award (M1) for approximate curve with k placed to the right of the
mean.

1010 (1006.57 …) (A1) (C2)

Note: Award full marks only for 1010, 1007 or an answer with more than 4 sf
resulting from correct rounding of 1006.57....

2c. For a bag of rice chosen at random, P(1000 − a < W < 1000 + a) = 0.9. [2 marks]
Find the value of a.
 Markscheme

(M1)

Note: Award (M1) for some indication of symmetry on diagram.

OR
P(W < 1000 − a) = 0.05 OR P(W > 1000 + a) = 0.05 (M1)
Note: Award (M1) for probability with single inequality resulting from
symmetry of diagram.

(a =) 6.58 (6.57941 …) (A1) (C2)

A factory makes metal bars. Their lengths are assumed to be normally distributed
with a mean of 180 cm and a standard deviation of 5 cm.

3a. On the following diagram, shade the region representing the probability [2 marks]
that a metal bar, chosen at random, will have a length less than 175 cm.
 Markscheme

(A1)(M1) (C2)

Notes: Award (A1) for the vertical line labelled as 175 (cm).
Award (M1) for a vertical line drawn to the left of the mean with the area to the
left of this line shaded.
Accept (−)1 sd marked on the diagram for 175 (provided line is to the left of the
mean).

3b. A metal bar is chosen at random. [4 marks]

(i) The probability that the length of the metal bar is less than 175 cm is equal to
the probability that the length is greater than h cm. Write down the value of h.
(ii) Find the probability that the length of the metal bar is greater than one
standard deviation above the mean.

Markscheme
(i) 185 (cm) (A1)(C1)

(ii) P(length > 185) (A1)(M1)

Note: Award (A1) for the vertical line labelled as 185 (cm).
Award (M1) for a vertical line drawn to the right of the mean with the area to
the right of this line shaded.
Accept 1 sd marked on the diagram for 185 (provided line is to the right of the
mean).

= 0.159 (0.158655 …) (A1) (C3)

 The daily January temperature of Cairns is normally distributed with a mean of 34°C
and a standard deviation of 3.

4a. Calculate the probability that the temperature on a randomly chosen day [2 marks]
in January is less than 39°C.

Markscheme

(M1)

Note: Award (M1) for correctly shaded area.

0.952 (95.2%, 0.952209 …) (A1) (C2)

4b. Calculate the expected number of days in January that the temperature [2 marks]
will be more than 39°C.

Markscheme
31 × (1 − 0.952209) (M1)
Note: Award (M1) for multiplying 31 by (1 − their answer to part (a)).

= 1.48 (1.48150 …) (A1)(ft) (C2)

Note: Follow through from part (a).

4c. On a randomly chosen day in January, the probability that the temperature[2 marks]
is above T °C is 0.7.
Find the value of T .
 Markscheme

(M1)

Note: Award (M1) for correctly shaded area.

32.4 (32.4267 …) (A1) (C2)

The heights of apple trees in an orchard are normally distributed with a mean of
3.42 m and a standard deviation of
0.21 m .

5a. Write down the probability that a randomly chosen tree has a height [1
greater than 3.42 m. mark]

Markscheme
50
0.5 (50%, , 1)
100 2
(A1) (C1)

[1 mark]

5b. Write down the probability that a randomly chosen tree will be within 2 [1
standard deviations of the mean of 3.42 m. mark]

Markscheme
0.954(0.954499 … , 95.4%, 95.4499 … %) (A1) (C1)

Note: Accept 95% or 0.95.

[1 mark]
 5c. Use your graphic display calculator to calculate the probability that a [2 marks]
randomly chosen tree will have a height greater than 3.35 m.

Markscheme

(M1)

Note: Accept alternative methods.

0.631(0.630558 … , 63.1%, 63.0558 … %) (A1) (C2)

[2 marks]

5d. The probability that a particular tree is less than x metres high is 0.65. [2 marks]
Find the value of x.

Markscheme

(M1)

Note: Accept alternative methods.

3.50 (3.50091...) (A1) (C2)

[2 marks]

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