Question

The random variable X is normally distributed with mean 79 and variance 144.

Find

(a) P(X < 70), (3)

(b) P(64 < X < 96). (3)

It is known that P(79 – a  X  79 + b) = 0.6463. This information is shown in the figure below.

0.6463

79 – a 79 79 + b

Given that P(X  79 + b) = 2P(X  79 – a),

(c) show that the area of the shaded region is 0.1179.

(3)
(d) Find the value of b.
(4)
Example (2)
From experience a high jumper knows that he can clear a height of at least 1.78 m once in 5 attempts. He
also knows that he can clear a height of at least 1.65 m on 7 out of 10 attempts.

Assuming that the heights the high jumper can reach follow a Normal distribution,

(a) draw a sketch to illustrate the above information,

(3)
(b) find, to 3 decimal places, the mean and the standard deviation of the heights the high jumper can reach,
(6)
(c) calculate the probability that he can jump at least 1.74 m.
(3)
Normal exam questions

1. The heights of a group of athletes are modelled by a normal distribution with mean 180 cm and a standard
deviation 5.2 cm. The weights of this group of athletes are modelled by a normal distribution with mean 85
kg and standard deviation 7.1 kg.

Find the probability that a randomly chosen athlete

(a) is taller than 188 cm,

(3)
(b) weighs less than 97 kg.
(2)
(c) Assuming that for these athletes height and weight are independent, find the probability that a randomly
chosen athlete is taller than 188 cm and weighs more than 97 kg.
(3)
(d) Comment on the assumption that height and weight are independent.
(1)

3. The measure of intelligence, IQ, of a group of students is assumed to be Normally

distributed with mean 100 and standard deviation 15.

(a) Find the probability that a student selected at random has an IQ less than 91.
(4)
The probability that a randomly selected student has an IQ of at least 100 + k is 0.2090.

(b) Find, to the nearest integer, the value of k.

(6)

4. The random variable X has a normal distribution with mean 20 and standard deviation 4.
(a) Find P(X > 25).
(3)
(b) Find the value of d such that P(20 < X < d) = 0.4641
(4)

5. The weights of bags of popcorn are normally distributed with mean of 200 g and 60% of
all bags weighing between 190 g and 210 g.
(a) Write down the median weight of the bags of popcorn.
(1)
(b) Find the standard deviation of the weights of the bags of popcorn.
(5)
A shopkeeper finds that customers will complain if their bag of popcorn weighs less than
180 g.
(c) Find the probability that a customer will complain.
(3)
__________________________________________________________________________

6. A packing plant fills bags with cement. The weight X kg of a bag of cement can be
modelled by a normal distribution with mean 50 kg and standard deviation 2 kg.
(a) Find P(X >53).
 (3)
(b) Find the weight that is exceeded by 99% of the bags.
(5)
Three bags are selected at random.
(c) Find the probability that two weigh more than 53 kg and one weighs less than 53 kg.
(4)
___________________________________________________________________________

7. The random variable X has a normal distribution with mean 30 and standard deviation 5.
(a) Find P(X < 39).
(2)
(b) Find the value of d such that P(X < d) = 0.1151
(4)
(c) Find the value of e such that P(X > e) = 0.1151
(2)
(d) Find P(d < X < e).
(2)
___________________________________________________________________________

8. The random variable Z ~ N(0, 1).

A is the event Z > 1.1

B is the event Z > –1.9
C is the event –1.5 < Z < 1.5

(a) Find
(i) P(A),
(ii) P(B),
(iii) P(C),
(iv) P(A ∪ C).
(6)
The random variable X has a normal distribution with mean 21 and standard deviation 5.

(b) Find the value of w such that P(X > w | X > 28) = 0.625.
(6)