CHAPTER 71 THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

EXERCISE 302 Page 775

1. A component is classed as defective if it has a diameter of less than 69 mm. In a batch of 350

components, the mean diameter is 75 mm and the standard deviation is 2.8 mm. Assuming the

diameters are normally distributed, determine how many are likely to be classed as defective.

The z-value corresponding to 69 mm is given by: i.e. = -2.14 standard deviations

From Table 71.1 on page 774 of textbook, the area between z = 0 and z = - 2.14 is 0.4838, i.e. the

shaded area of the diagram below.

Thus the area to the left of the z = - 2.14 ordinate is 0.5000 – 0.4838 = 0.0162

The number likely to be classed as defective = 0.0162 × 350 = 5.67 or 6, correct to nearest whole

number.

2. The masses of 800 people are normally distributed, having a mean value of 64.7 kg and a

standard deviation of 5.4 kg. Find how many people are likely to have masses of less than

54.4 kg.

The z-value corresponding to 54.4 kg is given by: i.e. = - 1.91 standard

deviations

From Table 71.1 on page 774 of textbook, the area between z = 0 and z = - 1.91 is 0.4719, i.e. the

shaded area of the diagram below.

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Thus the area to the left of the z = - 1.91 ordinate is 0.5000 – 0.4719 = 0.0281

The number likely to have masses of less than 54.4 kg = 0.0281 × 800 = 22.48 or 22, correct to

nearest whole number.

3. 500 tins of paint have a mean content of 1010 ml and the standard deviation of the contents is

8.7 ml. Assuming the volumes of the contents are normally distributed, calculate the number of

tins likely to have contents whose volumes are less than (a) 1025 ml (b) 1000 ml and (c) 995 ml.

(a) The z-value corresponding to 1025 ml is given by: i.e. = 1.72 standard
deviations

From Table 71.1 on page 774 of textbook, the area between z = 0 and z = 1.72 is 0.4573, i.e.

the shaded area of the diagram below.

Thus the area to the left of the z = 1.72 ordinate is 0.5000 + 0.4573 = 0.9573

The number likely to have less than 1025 ml = 0.9573 × 500 = 479, correct to nearest whole

number.

(b) The z-value corresponding to 1000 ml is given by: i.e. = -1.15 standard
deviations

From Table 71.1 on page 774 of textbook, the area between z = 0 and z = -1.15 is 0.3749, i.e.

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 the shaded area of the diagram below.

Thus the area to the left of the z = -1.15 ordinate is 0.5000 - 0.3749 = 0.1251

The number likely to have less than 1000 ml = 0.1251 × 500 = 63, correct to nearest whole

number.

(c) The z-value corresponding to 995 ml is given by: i.e. = -1.72 standard
deviations

From Table 71.1, the area between z = 0 and z = -1.72 is 0.4573, i.e. the shaded area of the

diagram below.

Thus the area to the left of the z = -1.72 ordinate is 0.5000 - 0.4573 = 0.0427

The number likely to have less than 995 ml = 0.0427 × 500 = 21, correct to nearest whole

number.

4. For the 350 components in Problem 1, if those having a diameter of more than 81.5 mm are

rejected, find, correct to the nearest component, the number likely to be rejected due to being

oversized.

The z-value corresponding to 81.5 mm is given by: i.e. = 2.32 standard deviations.

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From Table 71.1 on page 774 of textbook, the area between z = 0 and z = 2.32 is 0.4898, i.e. the

shaded area of the diagram below.

Thus the area to the right of the z = 2.32 ordinate is 0.5000 – 0.4838 = 0.0102

The number likely to be classed as oversized = 0.0102 × 350 = 4, correct to nearest whole

number.

5. For the 800 people in Problem 2, determine how many are likely to have masses of more than

(a) 70 kg and (b) 62 kg.

(a) The z-value corresponding to 70 kg is given by: i.e. = 0.98 standard

deviations

From Table 71.1 on page 774 of textbook, the area between z = 0 and z = 0.98 is 0.3365, i.e.

the shaded area of the diagram below.

Thus the area to the right of the z = 0.98 ordinate is 0.5000 – 0.3365 = 0.1635

The number likely to have masses of more than 70 kg = 0.1635 × 800 = 130.8 or 131, correct

to nearest whole number.

(b) The z-value corresponding to 62 kg is given by: i.e. = - 0.50 standard

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 deviations

From Table 71.1 on page 774 of textbook, the area between z = 0 and z = - 0.50 is 0.1915, i.e.

the shaded area of the diagram below.

Thus the area to the right of the z = - 0.50 ordinate is 0.5000 + 0.1915 = 0.6915

The number likely to have masses of more than 62 kg = 0.6915 × 800 = 553.2 or 553, correct

to nearest whole number.

6. The mean diameter of holes produced by a drilling machine bit is 4.05 mm and the standard

deviation of the diameters is 0.0028 mm. For twenty holes drilled using this machine, determine,

correct to the nearest whole number, how many are likely to have diameters of between (a) 4.048

and 4.0553 mm and (b) 4.052 and 4.056 mm, assuming the diameters are normally distributed.

(a) The z-value corresponding to 4.048 mm is given by: i.e. = -0.71 standard
deviations

From Table 71.1 on page 774 of textbook, the area between z = 0 and z = - 0.71 is 02611

The z-value corresponding to 4.0553 mm is given by: i.e. = 1.89 standard

deviations

From Table 71.1, the area between z = 0 and z = 1.89 is 0.4706

The probability of the diameter being between 4.048 mm and 4.0553 mm is 0.2611 + 0.4706 =

0.7317 (see shaded area in diagram below).

The number likely to have diameter between 4.048 mm and 4.0553 mm = 0.7317 × 20 =

14.63 = 15, correct to nearest whole number.

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(b) The z-value corresponding to 4.052 mm is given by: i.e. = 0.71 standard
deviations

From Table 71.1, the area between z = 0 and z = 0.71 is 02611

The z-value corresponding to 4.056 mm is given by: i.e. = 2.14 standard

deviations

From Table 61.1, the area between z = 0 and z = 2.14 is 0.4838

The probability of the diameter being between 4.052 mm and 4.056 mm is 0.4838 - 0.2611 =

0.2227 (see shaded area in diagram below).

The number likely to have diameter between 4.052 mm and 4.056 mm = 0.2227 × 20 =

4.454 = 4, correct to nearest whole number.

7. The I.Q.’s of 400 children have a mean value of 100 and a standard deviation of 14. Assuming

that I.Q.’s are normally distributed, determine the number of children likely to have I.Q.’s of

between (a) 80 and 90, (b) 90 and 110 and (c) 110 and 130

(a) The z-value corresponding to an I.Q. of 80 is given by: i.e. = - 1.43 standard
deviations

From Table 71.1 on page 774 of textbook, the area between z = 0 and z = - 1.43 is 0.4236

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 The z-value corresponding to an I.Q. of 90 is given by: i.e. = - 0.71 standard
deviations

From Table 71.1, the area between z = 0 and z = - 0.71 is 0.2611

The probability of I.Q. being between 80 and 90 is 0.4236 - 0.2611 = 0.1625 (see shaded area

in diagram below).

The number likely to have an I.Q. between 80 and 90 = 0.1625 × 400 = 65

(b) The z-value corresponding to an I.Q. of 110 is given by: i.e. = 0.71 standard
deviations

From Table 71.1, the area between z = 0 and z = 0.71 is 0.2611

The probability of I.Q. being between 90 and 110 is 0.2611 + 0.2611 = 0.5222 (see shaded area

in diagram below).

The number likely to have an I.Q. between 90 and 110 = 0.5222 × 400 = 208.88 = 209,

correct to nearest whole number.

(c) The z-value corresponding to an I.Q. of 130 is given by: i.e. = 2.14 standard
deviations

From Table 71.1, the area between z = 0 and z = 2.14 is 0.4838

The probability of I.Q. being between 110 and 130 is 0.4838 - 0.2611 = 0.2227 (see shaded
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 area in diagram below).

The number likely to have an I.Q. between 110 and 130 = 0.2227 × 400 = 89.08 = 89,

correct to nearest whole number.

8. The mean mass of active material in tablets produced by a manufacturer is5.00 g and the

standard deviation of the masses is 0.036 g. In a bottle containing 100 tablets, find how many

tablets are likely to have masses of (a) between 4.88 and 4.92 g, (b) between 4.92 and 5.04 g and

(c) more than 5.04 g

(a) The z-value corresponding to 4.88 g is given by: i.e. = -3.33 standard
deviations

From Table 71.1 on page 774 of textbook, the area between z = 0 and z = -3.33 is 0.4996.

The z-value corresponding to 4.92 g is given by: = -2.22 standard deviations.

From Table 71.1, the area between z = 0 and z = - 2.22 is 0.4868

The probability of having masses being between 4.88 g and 4.92 g is 0.4996 - 0.4868 = 0.0128

(see shaded area in diagram below).

The number of tablets likely to have a mass between 4.88 g and 4.92 g = 0.0128 × 100 = 1,

correct to nearest whole number.

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(b) The z-value corresponding to 4.92 g is -2.22 standard deviations, from above, and the area

between z = 0 and z = - 2.22 is 0.4868.

The z-value corresponding to 5.04 g is given by: i.e. = 1.11 standard

deviations

From Table 71.1, the area between z = 0 and z = 1.11 is 0.3665

The probability of having masses being between 4.92 g and 5.04 g is 0.4868 + 0.3665 = 0.8533

(see shaded area in diagram below).

The number of tablets likely to have a mass between 4.92 g and 5.04 g = 0.8533 × 100 = 85,

correct to nearest whole number.

(c) The z-value corresponding to 5.04 g is 1.11 standard deviations, from above, and the area

between z = 0 and z = 1.11 is 0.3665

The probability of having a mass greater than 5.04 g is 0.5000 - 0.3665 = 0.1335

(see shaded area in diagram below).

The number of tablets likely to have a mass greater than 5.04g = 0.1335 × 100 = 13,

correct to nearest whole number.

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EXERCISE 303 Page 778

1. A frequency distribution of 150 measurements is as shown:

Class mid-point value 26.4 26.6 26.8 27.0 27.2 27.4 27.6
Frequency 5 12 24 36 36 25 12

Use normal probability paper to show that this data approximates to a normal distribution and

hence determine the approximate values of the mean and standard deviation of the distribution.

Use the formula for mean and standard deviation to verify the results obtained.

To test the normality of a distribution, the upper class boundary values are plotted against

percentage cumulative frequency values on normal probability paper.

The table below shows the upper class boundary values for the distribution, together with the

cumulative frequency and percentage cumulative frequency.

Class mid-point Upper class boundary Frequency Cumulative frequency % cumulative

value value frequency
26.4 26.5 5 5 5/150 = 3
26.6 26.7 12 5+12 = 17 17/150 = 11
26.8 26.9 24 17 + 24 = 41 41/150 = 27
27.0 27.1 36 77 51
27.2 27.3 36 113 75
27.4 27.5 25 138 92
27.6 27.7 12 150 100

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The co-ordinates of upper class boundary values/percentage cumulative frequency values are shown

plotted below. Since the points plotted lie very nearly in a straight line, the data is

approximately normally distributed.

From the graph, the mean occurs at 50%, i.e. mean, = 27.1 at point P.

At 84% cumulative frequency value, i.e. point Q, upper class boundary value = 27.38

At 16% cumulative frequency value, i.e. point R, upper class boundary value = 26.78

Hence, standard deviation,  = = 0.3

By calculation, mean,

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 =

= = 27.079

Standard deviation,  =

= = 0.3001

2. A frequency distribution of the class mid-point values of the breaking loads for 275 similar

fibres is as shown below:

Load (kN) 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
Frequency 9 23 55 78 64 28 14 4

Use normal probability paper to show that this distribution is approximately normally distributed

and determine the mean and standard deviation of the distribution (a) from the graph and (b) by

calculation.

To test the normality of a distribution, the upper-class boundary values are plotted against

percentage cumulative frequency values on normal probability paper.

The table below shows the upper-class boundary values for the distribution, together with the

cumulative frequency and percentage cumulative frequency.

Class mid-point Upper class boundary Frequency Cumulative frequency % cumulative

value (kN) value frequency
17 18 9 9 9/275 = 3
19 20 23 9 +23 = 32 32/275 = 12
21 22 55 32 + 55 = 87 87/275 = 32
23 24 78 165 60
25 26 64 229 83
27 28 28 257 93
29 30 14 271 99
31 32 4 275 100

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The co-ordinates of upper-class boundary values/percentage cumulative frequency values are shown

plotted below. Since the points plotted lie very nearly in a straight line, the data is

approximately normally distributed.

(a) From the graph, the mean occurs at 50%, at point P , i.e. mean, = 23.5 kN

At 84% cumulative frequency value, i.e. point Q, upper class boundary value = 26.2

At 16% cumulative frequency value, i.e. point R, upper class boundary value = 20.4

Hence, standard deviation, = 2.9 kN

(b) By calculation, mean, =

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 = = 23.364 kN

Standard deviation,  =

= = 2.917 kN

EXERCISE 304 Page 779

1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (d) 5. (a)

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