Tutorial 9 – Questions and Solutions

Question 1
The average life of a certain type of small motor is 10 years with a standard deviation of 2
years. The manufacturer replaces for free all motors that fail while under guarantee. If he is
willing to replace only 4% of the motors that fail, how long a guarantee should he offer?
(Assume the lifespan of the motors is normally distributed.)

Q1 solution:

The x-value can also be found directly using the Excel command:
= 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐼𝑁𝑉(0,04 ; 10 ; 2)

Using Excel directly gives 𝑥0.04 = 6.498 … ≈ 6.5

Question 2
A luxury passenger liner has 500 passengers on board whose ages are normally distributed
with a standard deviation of 12 years. It is known that 95% of the passengers are at most 67
years old. What is the average age of the passengers?

Q2 solution:
Let 𝑋 = 𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 , 𝑋~𝑁( 𝜇 ; 122 ).
The mean is not given – the aim of the question is to find the value of 𝜇.
Note: Age is normally distributed meaning that it is a continuous distribution. For
continuous distributions we use 𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑥) = 0 by convention. So, we can say “less than, or
equal to, 67” or “less than 67”.
Given: The percentage of people who are less than 67 yrs old is 95.
i.e. The probability that a person is less than 67 yrs old is 0.95
i.e. 𝑃(𝑋 < 67) = 0.95
i.e. 𝑥0.95 = 67
Find the corresponding 𝑧-value (in the selected percentiles part of the 𝑍-tables):
𝑧0.95 = 1.645
Alternatively, find this z-value using Excel: = 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝑆. 𝐼𝑁𝑉(0,95)
Rearrange the “standardizing” formula so that 𝜇 is the subject of the formula:
𝜇 = 𝑥0.95 − 𝜎𝑧0.95
= 67 − (12)(1.645)
= 47.26 Note: Using Excel gives a slightly different value of z, but
≈ 47 the final answer rounds to the same whole number.

Question 3
Rechargeable batteries for remotes of gaming consoles need to be charged regularly. The
battery life of rechargeable batteries follows a normal distribution with a mean of 25 hours.
Ninety-eight-and-a-half percent (98.5%) of batteries last more than 20.66 hours. What is the
value of the standard deviation of the battery life?

Q3 solution:
Let 𝑌 = 𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒

𝑌~𝑁( 25 ; 𝜎 2 )
Given: Ninety-eight-and-a-half percent (98.5%) of batteries last more than 20.66 hours
i.e. The probability that a battery lasts more than 20.66 hrs is 0.985
i.e. 𝑃( 𝑌 > 20.66 ) = 0.985
So, 𝑃( 𝑌 < 20.66 ) = 1 − 𝑃( 𝑌 > 20.66 ) = 0.015
Thus: 𝑦0.015 = 20.66
It was necessary to calculate the area to the left of 20.66 because the corresponding value
on the 𝑍-tables (and in excel) is given as an area to the left (cumulative probability).
𝑧0.015 = −2.17
Excel command: = 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝑆. 𝐼𝑁𝑉(0,015)
Rearrange the “standardizing” formula so that 𝜎 is the subject of the formula:
𝑦0.015 − 𝜇 20.66 − 25
𝜎 = = = 2
𝑧0.015 −2.17

Note: Using Excel gives a slightly different value of z, but

the final answer rounds to the same whole number.
Questions 4 to 7 are based on the following information:

Farm workers are employed on a contract-to-contract basis. The contract lengths follow a
normal distribution with a mean of 25 weeks and a variance of 36.

Question 4
What is the probability that a randomly chosen farm worker is currently working a contract
that is more than 30 weeks?

Q4 solution:
Define 𝑋 = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡
𝑋~𝑁(25 ; 36)
Since 𝜎 2 = 36, we have 𝜎 = 6.

Excel command:

= 1 − 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(30; 25; 6; 𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐸)

Question 5
Only 20% of farm workers have contracts of more than 𝑥 weeks. What is the value of 𝑥 ?

Q5 solution: Excel command to find 𝑥0.8 directly: = 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐼𝑁𝑉(0,8; 25; 6)

Question 6
If a random sample of 50 farm workers is taken, how many would you expect to have
contracts of 22 weeks to 32 weeks in length?

Q6 solution:
Excel command:

= 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(32; 25; 6; 𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐸)

− 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(22; 25; 6; 𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐸)

Question 7
If a random sample of 60 farm workers is taken, what is the probability that the average
length of their contracts is less than 27 weeks?

Q7 solution:

Excel command:

= 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(27; 25; 6/𝑆𝑄𝑅𝑇(60); 𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐸)

Questions 8 to 11 are based on the following information:

The weights of rhesus monkeys are normally distributed with a mean of 6.7 kg and a
standard deviation of 1.4 kg.

Let 𝑋 = 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
𝑋~𝑁(6.7 ; 1.42 )

Question 8
What is the probability that a randomly chosen rhesus monkey weights between 6 kg and
8.5 kg?
Q8 solution:
Excel command:

= 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(8,5; 6,7; 1,4; 𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐸)

− 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(6; 6,7; 1,4; 𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐸)

Question 9
Rhesus monkeys that weigh under 4.5 kg are considered underweight. If a random sample
of 70 monkeys are weighed, how many would you expect to be underweight?
Q9 solution:
Excel command:

= 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(4,5; 6,7; 1,4; 𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐸)

Question 10
If a random sample of 25 monkeys is selected, what is the probability that their average
weight is more than 6.9 kg?

Q10 solution:
Excel command:

= 1 − 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(6,9; 6,7; 1,4/𝑆𝑄𝑅𝑇(25); 𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐸)

Question 11
If a random sample of 25 monkeys is selected, what is the probability that their average
weight differs from the true average weight by at most 0.5 kg?

Q11 solution:

Excel command:

= 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝑆. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(1,79; 𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐸)

− 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝑆. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(−1,79; 𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐸)

Questions 12 and 13 are based on the following information:

A study was conducted on the reaction times of long-distance truck drivers (after two hours
of non-stop driving). It was found that the reaction times were Normally distributed with an
average reaction time of 1.4 seconds and a variance of 0.0625.

Question 12
What is the probability that a particular truck driver who has been driving for two hours
non-stop has a reaction time of more than 2 seconds?

Q12 solution:
Let 𝑋 = 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠)
𝑋~𝑁( 1.4 ; 0.0625 )
Note that 𝜎 = √0.0625 = 0.25

Excel command:

= 1 − 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(2; 1,4; 0,25; 𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐸)

Question 13
If a sample of 20 truck drivers who have been driving for two hours non-stop is randomly
selected, what is the probability that their average reaction time is between 1,35 seconds
and 1.4 seconds?

Q13 solution:
Excel command:

= 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(1,4; 1,4; 0,25/𝑆𝑄𝑅𝑇(20); 𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐸)

− 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(1,35; 1,4; 0,25/𝑆𝑄𝑅𝑇(20); 𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐸)

Questions 14 and 15 are based on the following information:

Sixty percent of Stat130 students passed Test 3. Suppose a random sample of 45 Stat130
students is selected.

Question 14
What is the probability that more than 65% of them passed Test 3?

Q14 solution:
Event of interest: passed Test 3
𝑝 = 0.6
𝑛 = 45 (large, so the Central limit theorem can be used)

Excel command:

= 1 − 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(0,65; 0,6; 𝑆𝑄𝑅𝑇(0,6 ∗ 0,4/45);TRUE)

Question 15
What is the probability that the sample proportion that passed Test 3 differs from the
population proportion that passed by more than 0.1?

Q15 solution:

Excel command:

= 1 − 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝑆. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(1,37; 𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐸)

+ 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝑆. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(−1,37; 𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐸)

Questions 16 and 17 are based on the following information:

It has been found that 35% of patients attending a clinic suffer from some form of chronic
illness. A clinic administrator randomly selects the files of 60 of its patients.

Question 16
What is the probability that less than 40% of the files are for patients with chronic illnesses?

Q16 solution:
Event of interest: Suffers from a chronic illness
𝑝 = 0,35
𝑛 = 60 (large so the Central Limit Theorem can be used)

Excel command:

= 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(0,4; 0,35; 𝑆𝑄𝑅𝑇(0,35 ∗ 0,65/60);TRUE)

Question 17
What is the probability that more than 80% of the files are for patients who do not have
chronic illnesses?

Q17 solution:
Method 1:
P(more than 80% of files are for patients who do not have a chronic illness)
=P(at most 20% of files are for patients who do have a chronic illness)

= 𝑃(𝑃̂ < 0.2) Excel command:

𝑃̂ − 𝑝 0.2 − 0.35 = 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(0,2; 0,35; 𝑆𝑄𝑅𝑇(0,35 ∗ 0,65/60);TRUE)

=𝑃 <
𝑝𝑞
√ √(0.35)(0.65)
( 𝑛 60 )
= 𝑃(𝑍 < −2.44)
= 0.0073
≈ 0.007

Method 2:
Define a new event of interest: Does not have a chronic illness
𝑝 = 1 − 0.35 = 0.65
𝑛 = 60 Excel command:

𝑃(𝑃̂ > 0.8) = 1 − 𝑁𝑂𝑅𝑀. 𝐷𝐼𝑆𝑇(0,8; 0,65; 𝑆𝑄𝑅𝑇(0,65 ∗ 0,35/60);TRUE)

𝑃̂ − 𝑝 0.8 − 0.65
=𝑃 >
𝑝𝑞
√ √(0.65)(0.35)
( 𝑛 60 )
= 1 − 𝑃(𝑍 < 2.44)
= 1 − 0.9927
= 0.0073
≈ 0.007

Excel questions
on following
pages.
EXCEL – Chapter 5

Which of the following Excel commands/formulae can be used to calculate P(Z>1.05)?

= NORM.S.DIST( 1,05 ; FALSE )

= NORM.DIST( 1,05 ; 0 ; 1 ; TRUE )
= NORM.S.DIST( 1,05 ; TRUE )
= NORM.S.DIST( –1,05 ; TRUE )
= 1 – NORM.DIST( 1,05 ; TRUE )

Which of the following Excel commands/formulae can be used to find the value k, k<0, such
that the area under the Standard Normal curve between 0 and k is 0,35?

= NORM.INV( 0,35 )
= NORM.INV( 0,15 )
= NORM.S.INV( 0,15 )
= NORM.S.INV( 0,85 )
= NORM.S.INV( 0,35 )

The speeds of cars along a particular stretch of highway between Durban and
Pietermaritzburg are normally distributed with a mean of 134.4 kilometres per hour (km/h)
with a standard deviation of 9.6 km/h.

What is the probability that a randomly selected car travelling along this stretch of highway
is travelling faster than 110 km/h?
Which of the following Excel commands can be used to calculate this probability?

= NORM.DIST( 110 ; 134,4 ; SQRT(9,6) ; TRUE )

= NORM.DIST( 110 ; 134,4 ; 9,6 ; FALSE )
= 1 – NORM.DIST( 110 ; 134,4 ; 9,6 ; TRUE )
= NORM.DIST( 110 ; 134,4 ; 9,6 ; TRUE )
= 1 – NORM.DIST( 110 ; 134,4 ; SQRT(9,6) ; TRUE )
= 1 – NORM.DIST( 110; 134,4 ; 9,6^2 ; TRUE )
= 1 – NORM.DIST(110 ; TRUE )

Suppose a sample of 60 cars is taken. How many would you expect to be travelling under
120 km/h?
Which of the following Excel commands can be used to calculate this probability?
 = 60*NORM.DIST( 120 ; 134,4 ; 9,6 ; TRUE )
= 60*NORM.DIST( 120 ; 134,4 ; 9,6^2 ; TRUE)
= NORM.DIST( 120 ; 134,4 ; 9,6/SQRT(60) ; TRUE )
= 60*NORM.DIST( 120 ; 134,4 ; SQRT(9,6) ; TRUE )
= NORM.DIST( 120 ; 134,4 ; 9,6 ; TRUE )
= 60*NORM.DIST( 120 ; 134,4 ; 9,6/SQRT(60) ; TRUE )

Eighty (80) percent of cars travelling along this stretch of highway travel at most x km/h.
Which of the following Excel commands can be used to calculate the value of x?

= NORM.INV( 0,8 ; 134,4 ; 9,6 ; TRUE )

= NORM.S.INV( 0,8 ; 134,4 ; 9,6 )
= NORM.INV( 80 ; 134,4 ; 9,6 )
= NORM.INV( 0,8 ; 134,4 ; 9,6 )
= NORM.S.DIST( 80 ; 134,4 ; 9,6 ; TRUE )