Ms Abrao

Math 43 Introduction to Probability and Statistics

Chapters 7. The Central Limit Theorem Homework Solutions
HW pp. 431 - 438 #63, 65, 62, 67, 70, 71, 78 - 84, 95
Note: I intentionally put the HW problems in the order 63, 65, then 62

63. X ∼ ? (10.53, 2)

(a) X = the length of time for an individual to complete IRS Form 1040 (in hours)

(b) X̄ = the average length of time for a sample of 36 taxpayers to complete IRS form
1040 (in hours)
P (x̄ )

( )
2
(c) X̄ ∼ N 10.53, = 0.333
36

x̄
10.53
Average Time to Complete 1040 Tax Form (hours)

(d) P (x̄ > 12) = normalcdf (12, 1E 99, 10.53, 0.333) = 0.000005

Yes, I would be surprised if the 36 taxpayers averaged more than 12 hours. The
likelihood of this happening is almost zero.
P (x̄ )

12 x̄
10.53
Average Time to Complete 1040 Tax Form (hours)

Note: Both answers are correct. In the first calculation I used the decimal approximation
0.333 for the standard deviation of the sampling distribution. In the second calculation, I
2
used the exact value of . Keep in mind that all probabilities are numbers between
36
0 and 1. The answer cannot be 5.06. Make sure to take note of the E-6. That is
scientific notation for 5 × 10−6 = 0.000005.

(e) You cannot do this calculation as we do not know if the population has a normal
distribution, i.e. we cannot use normalcdf!
 ( 43 )
0.433
65. X ∼ U (2, 3.5), X̄ ∼ N 2.75,

Note: Recall from Chapter 5, properties of Uniform Distributions -

a+b 2 + 3.5
μX = = = 2.75 minutes
2 2

(b − a) (3.5 − 2)
2 2

σX = = = 0.433 minutes
12 12
(a) X = the length of a song in a collector’s iTunes album collection (in minutes)

(b) X ∼ U (2, 3.5)

(c) X̄ = the average length of the 43 songs in a collector’s iTunes album collection (in
minutes)

( )
0.433
(d) X̄ ∼ N 2.75, = 0.066
43

( 43 )
0.433
(e) Q1x̄ = invNorm 0.25, 2.75, = 2.705 minutes

( 43 )
0.433
(f) Q3x̄ = invNorm 0.75, 2.75, = 2.795 minutes

P (x̄ ) P (x̄ )

75%

25%

2.795 x̄ 2.705 x̄
2.75 2.75
Average Song Length (minutes) Average Song Length (minutes)

The IQR (interquartile range) for the average song length, X̄ , is from 2.705 - 2.795
minutes.
62. X ∼ N (250, 50)

( )
50
(a) X̄ ∼N 250, = 7.143
49

( 49 )
50
(b) P (x̄ < 240) = normalcdf −1E 99, 240, 250, = 0.081

P (x̄ )

240 x̄
250
Average Distance of Fly Balls (feet)

( 49 )
50
(c) x̄ = invNorm 0.80, 250, = 256.012 feet

P (x̄ )

80%

256.012 x̄
250
Average Distance of Fly Balls (feet)
67.

(a) True - this is a property of the CLT.

(b) True - this is also a property of the CLT.

σx
(c) False - the CLT states σx̄ = .
n
70. (d)

This is a bit more ambiguous than the book wants you to believe. (b) and (c) are always
true for any continuous random variable, not just on the sampling distribution for
averages.

Once the sample size is 30 or higher and the CLT kicks in (d) is your answer. The
shape of the sampling distribution for averages is approximately normal once the
sample size is 30 or higher.

Before that happens, it’s possible (a) is your answer. If our population distribution is
roughly symmetric, then (a) might be true. But if our population distribution was skewed
in some way, (a) wouldn’t be true. This book loves to assume the sampling distribution
for x̄ is approximately normal well before the CLT can be applied.

71. (b)

X ∼ ? (4.59, 0.10)

( )
0.10
X̄ ∼ N 4.59, = 0.025
16

Note: I disagree with your book on the shape of the sampling distribution for X̄. We do
not know the shape of the population distribution. Our sample size n = 16 is not greater
than or equal to 30. We cannot assume the shape of the sampling distribution is

( )
0.10
approximately normal. The answer should be X̄ ∼ ? 4.59, = 0.025 .
16
78. (a)

X = how long past the 10 AM start time that individuals wait for their delivery (in hours)

If the company delivers furniture between 10 AM and 2 PM, that is between 0 and 4
hours past our starting time of 10 AM. This question is looking at the number of hours
past 10 AM, not the time of day.

79.

a+b 0+4
μX = = = 2 hours
2 2
80.

(a)

P (x > 3.5 AND x > 2) You might be wondering how I got from
P (x > 3.5 ∣ x > 2) = the 1st to the second line. We are
P (x > 2) looking for the overlap between
n u m b e r s g re at e r t h a n 3 . 5 A N D
P (x > 3.5) numbers greater than 2. Any number
= greater than 3.5 is automatically greater
P (x > 2) than 2. So the overlap is all of the

base ⋅ height
numbers greater than 3.5. We can also
= look at this graphically on numbers
base ⋅ height lines.

(4 − 3.5) ⋅
1 Overlap, i.e. “AND”
x > 3.5
4
= 1
(4 − 2) ⋅ 4
x >2
1
0.5 ⋅ 4
= 1
2⋅ 4
0.5
=
2
= 0.25

Note: The questions in #78 - 80 are covering topics from Chapter 5, not Chapter 7. The
questions asked of you were about a uniform distribution and a single delivery. There
were no questions about the average wait time of a random sample of deliveries.
 ( )
21.651
For #81 - 82: X ∼ U (0, 75), X̄ ∼ N 37.5, = 2.1651
100

Note: Recall from Chapter 5, properties of Uniform Distributions -

a+b 0 + 75
μX = = = 37.5 minutes
2 2

(b − a) (75 − 0)
2 2

σX = = = 21.651 minutes
12 12
81. (b)

( 100 )
21.651
x̄ = invNorm 0.90, 37.5, = 40.275 minutes

P (x̄ )

90%

40.275 x̄
37.5
Average Bus Wait Times (minutes)

82. (a)

( 100 )
21.651
P (x̄ < 30) = normalcdf −1E 99, 30, 37.5, = 0.0003

P (x̄ )

Keep in mind that all

30 x̄ probabilities are numbers
37.5
Average Bus Wait Times (minutes) between 0 and 1. The answer
cannot be 2.66. Make sure to
take note of the E-4. That is
scientific notation for 0.000266
~ 0.0003.
 ( )
0.10
From #71 - X̄ ∼N 4.59, = 0.025
16
83. (a)

( 16 )
0.10
P (x̄ > 4.69) = normalcdf 4.69, 1E 99, 4.59, = 0.00003
P (x̄ )

4.69 x̄
4.59 Keep in mind that all
Average Gas Price (dollars) probabilities are numbers
between 0 and 1. The answer
cannot be 3.17. Make sure to
take note of the E-5. That is
scientific notation for 0.00003.

Note: I disagree with your book on the shape of the sampling distribution for X̄. We do
not know the shape of the population distribution. Our sample size n = 16 is not greater
than or equal to 30. We cannot assume the shape of the sampling distribution is
approximately normal, which means we should not do #83 as we cannot use normalcdf
or invNorm. The answer should be (d). For the sake of practice, I will crunch the
numbers. But let’s be clear - this calculation cannot be made.
84. (c)

( )
0.10
X̄ ∼ N 4.59, = 0.018
30

( 30 )
0.10
P (x̄ < 4.55) = normalcdf −1E 99, 4.55, 4.59, = 0.014

P (x̄ )

4.55 x̄
4.59
Average Gas Price (dollars)

Note: For #84 we know the shape of the sampling distribution for X̄. This is different
from #83. While we still do not know the shape of the population distribution, this time
our sample size n = 30. The CLT informs us that the shape of the sampling distribution
is approximately normal, which means we we can use normalcdf or invNorm.
 ( )
1
95. X ∼ ?(1, 1), X̄ ∼ N 1, = 0.12
70

( 70 )
1
P (x̄ < 1.1) = normalcdf −1E 99, 1.1, 1, = 0.799

It might be enough time. There’s a 20% chance that it might not be enough time.

P (x̄ )

1.1 x̄
1
Average AC Servicing Time (hours)