SAN AGUSTIN INTEGRATED SCHOOL

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

San Agustin Libon, Albay STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY

Topic 5: Standard Scores

In the previous lessons, you have learned about the basic concept of normal distribution. You further learned on
how to identify the regions under the normal curve using the z-table. In this lesson, you will learn how to relate the
concept of the normal curve to a random variable distribution using the z-score. You will be transforming a normal
random variable to a standard normal variable and vice-versa.

Why use standard score or z-score

Raw scores may be composed of large values, but large values cannot be accommodated at the base line of the
normal curve. So, they have to be transformed into scores for convenience without sacrificing meanings associated with
the raw scores.
If you wish to find the proportion of area, percentage or probability associated with a raw score, you must find its
matched z-value using the z-score formula. Then, the z-value leads to the area under the normal curve found in the z-
table, which is a probability or the desired percentage.

Z-score or standard score measures how many standard deviation a given value (x) is above or below the mean.
Z-scores are useful in comparing observed values. If a z-score is equal to 0, it is on the mean. A positive z-score indicates
that the score or observed value is above the mean, whereas a negative z-score indicates that the score or observed
value is below the mean. For example, if a z-score is equal to 1, it is 1 standard deviation above the mean. If a z-score is
equal to −2, it is 2 standard deviations below the mean.
The areas under the normal curve are given in terms of z-scores. Either it locates x within a sample or within a
population.

The formula for calculating z is:

where: z = standard score
For Sample: For Population: x = raw score 𝑥̅ = sample mean
x−x x−μ s = sample standard deviation
z= z=
s σ 𝜇 = population mean
𝜎 = population standard deviation

Study the following examples.

Example 1: Locate the z-value that corresponds to Mathematics test score of 55 given the mean, μ=50 and the standard
deviation, σ =2 .

1. Choose the formula to use. (Use the z-score formula for x−μ
z=
population data as indicated in the problem.) σ

2. Write the given values. x=55 ; μ=50 ; σ=2

x−μ
z=
σ
3. Substitute the given values in the computing formula. Then, 55−50
z=
compute the z-value. 2
5
z=
2
z=2.5
Thus, the z-value that corresponds to the raw score 55 is 2.5 in a population distribution. This means the score 55 is
2.5 standard deviations above the mean.

Example 2: On the midterm examination in Statistics, the sample mean was 80 and the sample standard deviation was 7.
Determine the standard score of a student who got a score of 75 assuming that the scores are normally distributed.

1. Choose the formula to use. (Use the z-score formula for x−x
z=
population data as indicated in the problem.) s

2. Write the given values. x=75 ; x ̅ =80 ; s=7

1
Page

2ND SEMESTER | princessverniecesianobleza
 x−μ
z=
σ
3. Substitute the given values in the computing formula. Then, 75−80
z=
compute the z-value. 7
−5
z=
7
z=−0.71
Thus, the z-value that corresponds to the raw score 75 is −0.71 in a sample distribution. This means the score 75 is
0.71 standard deviations below the mean.

Example 3: Liza scored 90 in a Mathematics test and 70 in an English test. Scores in the Mathematics test have a mean
μ=80 and a standard deviation 𝜎 =10. Scores in the English test have a mean μ=60 and a standard deviation σ =8. In
which subject was her standing better, assuming that the scores in her Mathematics and English class are normally
distributed?

1. Choose the formula to use. (Use the z-score

x−μ
formula for population data as indicated in the z=
σ
problem.)
Subject 𝒙 𝝁 𝝈
2. Write the given values. Mathematics 90 80 10
English 70 60 8
Mathematics English
x−μ x−μ
z= z=
3. Substitute the given values in the computing σ σ
formula. Then, compute the z-value. 90−80 70−60
z= z=
10 7
10 −10
z= z=
10 8
z=1 z=1.25
The z-value that corresponds to Liza’s Mathematics raw score of 90 is 1 in a population distribution. This means the
score 90 is 1 standard deviation above the mean. Meanwhile, the z-value that corresponds to her English score of 70 is
1.25. This means that 70 is 1.25 standard deviations above the mean. Thus, Liza has a better standing in English
compared to Mathematics.

You already know how to convert a random normal variable to a standard normal score or z-score. This time, let’s do
the reverse. Given the z-score, compute for the raw scores.
Given: 𝜇 = 30, 𝜎 = 5. What is the raw score when 𝑧 = 1.30?
x−μ
z=
σ
1. Use the computing formula for finding the z-
score for population data. You can derive the
σ ( z )=σ ( x−μ
σ )
multiply both sides by σ
formula for easy computation. σz=x −μ simplify
σz + μ= x Addition property of equality
x=σz + μ
2. Write the given values. μ=30; σ=5 , z=1.30
x=σz + μ
3. Substitute the given values in the computing
x=5 ( 1.30 ) +30
formula. Then, compute the z-value.
x=6.5+30
x=36.5
Thus, the raw score when 𝑧 = 1.30 is 36.5.
2
Page

2ND SEMESTER | princessverniecesianobleza
 Worksheet 4
Activity 1. Think of words or phrases you can associate with the word standard scores. Write your answer in the graphic
organizer below.

Standard Score

Activity 2. Given the z-score, compute for the raw scores

1. Given: 𝑥̅ = 75, 𝑠 = 10. What is the raw score when 𝑧 = −1.56?
1. Use the computing formula for finding the z-
score for population data. You can derive the
formula for easy computation.
2. Write the given values.

3. Substitute the given values in the computing

formula. Then, compute the z-value.

Thus, the raw score when 𝑧 = −1.56 is __________.

2. Given: 𝜇 = 48, 𝜎 = 5.5. What is the raw score when 𝑧 = 2.43?

1. Use the computing formula for finding the z-
score for population data. You can derive the
formula for easy computation.
2. Write the given values.

3. Substitute the given values in the computing

formula. Then, compute the z-value.

Thus, the raw score when 𝑧 = 2.43 is __________.

Activity 3. Do as indicated.
1. Given 𝑥̅ = 60; and 𝑠 = 6, find the z-score that corresponds to each of the following scores up to two decimal places.
a. 𝑥 = 70 b. 𝑥 = 58
2. Given 𝜇 = 72; and 𝜎 = 8, find the z-score that corresponds to each of the following scores up to two decimal places.
a. 𝑥 = 68 b. 𝑥 = 80
3. Alex scored 90 during the first periodic exam in Mathematics and 88 during the second periodic exam. The scores in
first periodic exam have a mean 𝜇 = 83 and a standard deviation σ =9 . Scores in the second periodic exam have a
mean μ=80 and a standard deviation 𝜎 = 8. In which periodic exam was his standing better, assuming that the
scores in his periodic exams are normally distributed?
4. On a final examination in Biology, the mean was 75 and the standard deviation was 12. Determine the standard score
of a student who received a score of 60 assuming that the scores are normally distributed.
5. Given: 𝜇 = 64, 𝜎 = 7. What is the raw score when 𝑧 = −0.76?

ANSWER KEY
Activity 1.
PERFORMANCE TASK (To be
submitted on a separate
sheet of paper)
1. Gather all your
classmates’ scores,
3

Standard Score including yours, in a

Page

recent test or any output

in any subject (please
2ND SEMESTER | princessverniecesianobleza