Normal Distribution Slides Questions Solutions

Example 1:
Daily cement production of a plant follows normal distribution with mean of 50 tons and
standard deviation of 3.5 tons. On how many days in a year the production is expected
to exceed 55 tons?

•  =50,  =3.5
• X ~ N(50,3.5)
• z = (55-50)/3.5 = 1.43

• P(X  55) = P(Z  1.43)

= 0.0764
Ans = 365 x 0.0764 = 28 days
Example 2:
A group of achievement scores are normally distributed with a mean of 76 and a
standard deviation of 4. If one score is randomly selected what is the probability that it
is at least 80.

•  =76,  =4
• X ~ N (76, 4)
• z = (80-76)/4 = 1

• P (X  80) = P (Z  1)
= 0.5 - 0.3413
• Ans = 0.1587
Example 3:
A bank manager has learnt that the length of time the customers must wait for being
attended by the teller is normally distributed with mean time of 5 minutes and standard
deviation of 0.8 minutes. Find the probabilities that a customer has to wait:
 • for less than 6 minutes
• for more than 3.5 minutes
• between 3.4 and 6.2 minutes
Solution:

 = 5 min and  = 0.8 min, X ~ N (5, 0.8)

• P (X ≤ 6) = P (Z ≤ 1.25) = 0.89435
• P (X ≥ 3.5) = P (Z ≥ -1.875) = 0.9696
• P (3.4 ≤ X ≤ 6.2) = 0.910443
Example 4:
• Time required to finish an exam is known to be normally distributed with a mean of 60
Min. and a Std Dev. of 12 minutes.
• How much time should be allowed for 90% of the students to finish?

•  =60,  = 12
• X ~ N (60, 12)
• z = (X -60)/12 <= .9 (For this find the z-value at probability of .4)
• z = (X -60)/12 = 1.28
• X = 75.36
• Ans = 75.36 minutes
Example 5:
The marks on a statistics test are normally distributed with a mean of 62 and a variance
of 225. The instructor wishes to assign ‘B’ or higher to the top 30% of the students in the
class. Obtain minimum marks required to get a ‘B’ or higher?

•  = 62 and  = 15
• X ~ N (62, 15)
 • P (X ≥ x) >= 0.70, x =?
• Z~N (0,1)
• For this, find z s.t. P(Z ≥ z)=.20
• Z=.53

• Now using the transformation rule x= +Z = 69.95 Approx

Example 6:
Mensa is an organization whose members possess IQs that are in top 2% of the
population. It is known that IQs are normally distributed with a mean of 100 and a
standard deviation of 16. Find the minimum IQ needed to be a Mensa member.

•  = 100 and  = 16
• X ~ N (100, 16)
• P (X ≥ x) = 0.98, x =? (For this find z-value at probability of .48)
• z = (X -100)/16 = 2.05
• X = 132.8
Ans: 132.8

NOTE: I HAVE ONLY DRAWN NORMAL CURVE FIGURES FOR

SOME QUESTIONS. BUT, IN END-TERM ITS IMPERATIVE FOR
YOU ALL TO DRAW FIGURES IN EVERY QUESTION!!!