Lesson 12-7 Applications of the Normal Distribution

Objectives: Use the normal distribution to find percentages Use the normal distribution to find probabilities Use the normal distribution to find percentile ranks

A. How to Solve Normal Distribution Problems

Step 1 Draw the figure and shade in the area Step 2 Find the z score for the data value using the z score formula.

Da- e a le a tv m au n z Sa ein t dd t ar v n di o a
Step 3 Look up the z scores in Appendix A of the textbook. Find the shaded area for your figure.

Probability vs. Area

The area under a normal distribution between two data values is the probability that a randomly selected data value is between those two values.

1. If the weights of Oreos in a package are normally distributed with mean 518 grams and standard deviation 4 grams, find the percentage of packages that will weigh less than 510 grams.

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Lesson 12-7 Applications of the Normal Distribution

2. Based on data compiled by the World Health Organization, the mean systolic blood pressure in the United States is 120, the standard deviation is 16, and the pressures are normally distributed. Find each. a. The percent of individuals who have a blood pressure between 120 and 128

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b. The percent of individuals who have a blood pressure above 132

c. The percent of individuals who have a blood pressure between 112 and 116.

d. The percent of individuals who have a blood pressure between 124 and 144

e. The percent of individuals who have a blood pressure lower than 104

Lesson 12-7 Applications of the Normal Distribution

3. Based on data in the 2009 Statistical Abstract of the United States, the average American generates 1,679 pounds of garbage per year. Lets assume that the number of pounds generated per person is approximately normally distributed with standard deviation 200 pounds. Find the probability that a randomly selected person generates (a) Between 1,300 and 2,000 pounds of garbage per year.

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(b) More than 2,000 pounds of garbage per year.

Lesson 12-7 Applications of the Normal Distribution

4. The Statistical Abstract also indicates that of the 1,679 pounds of garbage generated by the average individual, 913 pounds will end up in a landfill. If these amounts are approximately normally distributed with standard deviation 160 pounds, find the probability that a randomly selected person generates (a) Less than 600 pounds that end up in a landfill.

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(b) Between 600 and 1,000 pounds that end up in a landfill.

Lesson 12-7 Applications of the Normal Distribution

5. The American Automobile Association reports that the average time it takes to respond to an emergency call is 25 minutes. Assume the response time is approximately normally distributed and the standard deviation is 4.5 minutes. (a) If 80 calls are randomly selected, approximately how many will have response times less than 15 minutes?

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(b) In what percentile is a response time of 30 minutes?

Lesson 12-7 Applications of the Normal Distribution

6. The mean for a reading test given nationwide is 80, and the standard deviation is 8. The variable is normally distributed. If 10,000 students take the test, find each. (a) The number of students who will score above 90.

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(b) The number of students who will score between 78 and 88.

Lesson 12-7 Applications of the Normal Distribution

(c) The percentile of a student who scores 94.

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(d) The number of students who will score below 76.