PercentilesZScores Student

Percentiles & Z-scores Name ___________________________
PercentileZScores.tns Class ___________________________
A normal curve is a density curve that is symmetric,

single-peaked and bell-shaped. In addition, the
screenshot at the right shows the percentage of data
that falls within 1, 2, and 3 standard deviations of the
mean.
When data fits a normal pattern, one can standardize

values and compare distributions.
x−μ
The standardized value of x is z = , where μ is the mean and σ is the standard
σ
deviation of the data. This value is called the z-score and it corresponds to the integers
in the figure above. In other words, the z-score is the number of standard deviations a
data point is above or below the mean.
The p-th percentile of a distribution is the value such that p percent of the observations
fall at or below it.
Part 1 – Given x-values, finding percentages

Problem: Too Good candy bars
The average (mean) number of calories in a bar is 210 and has a standard deviation of 10.
The number of calories per bar is approximately normally distributed.
What percent of candy bars contain between 200 and 220 calories?
Solution 1: Use a Graphs page.

• Graph the function f1(x) = normpdf(x, μ, σ) replacing μ with the mean and σ with the
standard deviation.
• Adjust the window.
o 99.7% of the data fall between what two x-values? Set these values as xmin and xmax.
o The area under the curve must be 1. What is a reasonable maximum height for this
curve thinking of the x-values from above? Set this as ymax.
• Find the area under the curve.
o Choose MENU > Analyze Graph > Integral.
o Select the graph by highlighting it and pressing enter. The graph will flash.
o Select a lower and upper bound. Type 200, ·, 220, ·. (Vertical lines will appear at
x = 200 and x = 220.)
• Multiply the value that appears by 100 to convert the area under the curve to a percent to
answer the question.
©2010 Texas Instruments Incorporated Page 1 Percentiles & Z-scores

Percentiles & Z-scores
Solution 2: Use a Calculator page.

• Choose MENU > Statistics > Distributions > Normal Cdf.
• In the dialog box, enter 200 for Lower Bound, 220 for Upper Bound, 210 for μ and 10 for σ.
Then press ·.
or
• Use the alpha and number keys to type normcdf(200, 220, 210, 10) and press ·.
In general, type normcdf(low value, high value, mean, standard deviation).
Try It!
The length of useful life of a fluorescent tube used for indoor gardening is normally distributed.
The useful life has a mean of 600 hours and a standard deviation of 40 hours. Determine the
probability that
a. a tube chosen at random will last between 620 and 680 hours.
b. such a tube will last more than 740 hours.
Part 2 – Given percentiles, finding x-values

While the normal curve is not a one-to-one function, if the definition of a p-th percentile is used,
an x-value that corresponds to a given percentile can be found.
Using the mean, μ, and the standard deviation, σ, describe each of the following.
In general, what is the x-value that corresponds to the…
• 50th percentile?
Problem:
Mike is in the 99th percentile for his height. U.S. men have an average height of 69.3 inches
with a standard deviation of 2.8 inches. How tall is he?
Solution:
• On a Calculator page, choose MENU > Statistics > Distributions > Inverse Normal.
• In the dialog box, enter 0.99 for Area, 69.3 μ and 2.8 for σ. Then press ·.
or
• Use the alpha and number keys to type invnorm(.99, 69.3, 2.8) and press ·.
In general, type invnorm(percentile as decimal, mean, standard deviation).

Try It!
1. The lifetimes of zip drives marketed by Zippers, Inc. are normally distributed, with a mean
lifetime of 11 months and a standard deviation of 3 months.
Zippers plans to offer a new warranty guaranteeing the replacement of failed zip drives
during the warranty period. It can afford to replace up to 4 percent of its drives.
How many months of warranty should the company offer with these drives? Round your
answer to the nearest month.
2. Final grade averages are typically approximately normally distributed with a mean of 72 and
a standard deviation of 12.5. Your professor says that the top 8% of the class will receive A;
the next 20%, B; the next 42%, C; the next 18%, D; and the bottom 12%, F.
a. What average must you exceed to obtain an A?
b. What average must you exceed to receive a grade better than a C?
c. What average must you obtain to pass the course?
Part 3 – Given z-scores, finding percentiles and x-values

Use the diagram from the first page of the worksheet to help answer the following statements.
• The x-value with a z-score = 0 is in the ____________ percentile.
• The x-value with a z-score = –3 is in the ____________ percentile.
• The x-value with a z-score = 2 is in the ____________ percentile.
Using the mean, μ, and the standard deviation, σ, describe each of the following:
• The x-value with a z-score = 0.
• The x-value with a z-score = –3.
• The x-value with a z-score = 2.
A Graphs page and Calculator page can be can be used to find the exact corresponding
percentiles and x-values when given z-scores.
Problem:
Find the corresponding percentile and x-value that has a z-score = –2.3 with mean = 100 and
standard deviation = 10.

Solution: Finding percentile using a standardized normal curve.

• On a Graphs page, graph the function f1(x) = normpdf(x, 0, 1).
• Adjust the window.
• As done in Part 1, find the area under the curve from the left to –2.3. (The left bound
is the xmin.)
• Convert the area under the curve to a percent to answer the question.
or
• On a Calculator page, use the keys to type normcdf(–1E99, –2.3, 0, 1) and press ·.
Solution: Finding x-value.

• Choose MENU > Statistics > Distributions > Inverse Normal.
• In the dialog box, enter the percentile for Area, 100 for μ and 10 for σ. Then press ·.
or
• Use the alpha and number keys to type invnorm(percentile, 100, 10) and press ·.
Try It!
1. In a field, the heights of sunflowers are normally distributed with a mean of 72 inches and
standard deviation of 4 inches. Find the corresponding percentile and x-value for a
sunflower that has a z-score of 1.6.
2. The shoe sizes of a men’s basketball team are normally distributed with a mean of 11.5 and
a standard deviation of 1.25. Find the corresponding percentile and x-value for a player that
has a z-score of –3.1.
Homework Problems
Note: You will need to use the formula for finding a z-score.
1. A machine is programmed to fill 10-oz containers with a cleanser. However, the variability
inherent in any machine causes the actual amounts of fill to vary. The distribution is normal
with a standard deviation of 0.02 oz. What must the mean amount be in order for only 5% of
the containers receive less than 10-oz?
2. The weights of ripe watermelons grown at Mr. Smith’s farm are normally distributed with a
standard deviation of 2.8 lb. Find the mean weight of Mr. Smith’s ripe watermelons if only
3% weigh less than 15 lb.

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Percentiles & Z-scores Name ___________________________

PercentileZScores.tns Class ___________________________

A normal curve is a density curve that is symmetric,

When data fits a normal pattern, one can standardize

Part 1 – Given x-values, finding percentages

Solution 1: Use a Graphs page.

©2010 Texas Instruments Incorporated Page 1 Percentiles & Z-scores

Solution 2: Use a Calculator page.

In general, type normcdf(low value, high value, mean, standard deviation).

Part 2 – Given percentiles, finding x-values

©2010 Texas Instruments Incorporated Page 2 Percentiles & Z-scores

Part 3 – Given z-scores, finding percentiles and x-values

©2010 Texas Instruments Incorporated Page 3 Percentiles & Z-scores

Solution: Finding percentile using a standardized normal curve.

Solution: Finding x-value.

©2010 Texas Instruments Incorporated Page 4 Percentiles & Z-scores

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