EXERCISES [MAA 4.

11]
NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
SOLUTIONS
Compiled by: Christos Nikolaidis

O. Practice questions

1. (a) P(X < 90) = 0.308 P(90 < X < 130) = 0.625 P(X > 130) = 0.067
(b)
y

0.308 0.625 0.067

x

-∞ 90 100 130 +∞

2. (a) (use tail left, area 0.8) a = 116.8

(b) (use tail right, area 0.3) b=110.5
(c) (use tail central, area 0.4) c =89.5 d= 110.4
(d) (use tail central, area 0.5) Q1 =86.5 and Q3 = 113.5

3. (a) The standardised value of 100 is 0

(b) The standardised value of 90 is -0.5
The standardised value of 130 is 1.5
There are three ways to find them:
EITHER by observation
90 is 0.5 st. deviations below the mean, 130 is 1.5 st. deviations above the mean
X  X  100
OR using the formula Z  
 20
90  100 130  100
For 90, Z   0.5 , For 130, Z   1.5
20 20
OR by GDC
Ncd (lower = 90, upper = 130), EXE gives the standardised values as well.

4. (a)

0.2 0.2
0.3 0.3

-∞ 70 100 130 +∞

(b) (i) P(X < 130) = 0.8 (ii) P(X < 70) = 0.2
(iii) P(100<X < 130) = 0.3 (iv) P(70<X < 130) = 0.6

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5. σ = 10, 1.12 × 10 = 11.2
(a) 100 + 11.2 = 111.2
(b) 100 – 11.2 = 88.8
X  130  
6. z  0.842 (using standardised InvN with area 0.8 and tail left)
 20
   113.2
X  130  100
7. z  0.842 (using standardised InvN with area 0.8 and tail left)
 
   35.6
X 
8. We use  z twice.

60  
 0.84162  60    0.84162    0.84162  60

130  
 1.28155  130    1.28155    1.28155  130

System gives   87.7 and   33.0

9. (a) P( X  102)  0
(b) P(101.5  X  102.5)  0.0736

10. (a) P( X  102)  0.34457..  0.345

P( X  102) 0.34457
(b) (i) P( X  102 | X  100)    0.172
P( X  100) 0.5
P(100  X  102) 0.15542
(ii) P( X  102 | X  100)    0.0777
P( X  100) 0.5

11. (a) P ( X  230)  0.02275

(b) (i) (0.02275) 2  0.000518 (ii) (0.02275)  (1  0.02275)  2  0.0445
(c) Y follows B( n, p ) with n  7 n = 7, p  0.02275
P (Y  2)  0.00969

A. Exam style questions (SHORT)

12. P(180 < X < 280) = 0.645

13. P (27  X  34) = 0.910 (3 s.f.) (accept 0.911)
14. Let X be the random variable “the diameter of the disc,” then X ~ N(10, 0.12).
Using a graphic display calculator, P(X < 9.8) = 0.0228
15. P(0.74 < X < 0.95) = 0.586
16. (a) a = 1026
(b) b = 1008.8
(c) c = 958 and d = 1042
(d) IQR=1033.7 - 966.3 = 67.4

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17. (a) 0.773
(b) d = 161

18. (a) 0.159

(b) d = 136

19. (a) P(M  350) = 0.0912

(b)

0.025 0.025

either tail–1.96 0 for each1.96

left, tail right endpoint Z
or directly tail central with Area = 0.95
251 < M < 369
20. (a) 0.0668
(b) k = 26.1 kg
(c)

21. (a)
12.92% 10.38%
B

T t
(b) r = 6.56 t = 7.16

22. (a) P(90 < X < 125) = 0.701

70.1 percent of the population (accept 70 percent).
(b) P( X ≥ 125) = 0.0478
P(both persons having IQ ≥ 125) = (0.0478)2= 0.00228

23. (a) M ~ N (750, 252)

P (M < 740 g) = 0.345
(b) P (both < 740) = 0.3452= 0.119
(c) x = 737 g
24. (a) 0.345 (34.5%)
(b) P (2 300  X  3 300)  0.645
P(both)  (0.645)2  0.416
(c) d  $ 3 325 (  $ 3 330 to 3 s.f.) (Accept $3325.07)

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25. X ~ N (80, 82)
(a) P(X < 72) = 0.159
(b) (i) P(72 < X < 90) = 0.736
(ii)

72 80 90
(c) x = 66.0 months

26. (a) P( X  45)  0.8943...  0.894

P( X  55) 0.1056..
(b) P( X  55 | X  45)    0.118
P( X  45) 0.8943..

27. P (H > 197) = 0.159 = 15.9%

(b) 99% of heights under 209.6 = 210 cm (3 sf)
Height of standard doorway = 210 + 17 = 227 cm

28. (a) P( X  350)  0.10564977...  0.106

1000×0.106 = 106
(b) (i) (0.1056)2 = 0.0112
(ii) 0.1056×(1– 0.1056)×2 = 0.189
(iii) 0.0112 + 0.189 = 0.2
(c) Binomial with n = 8 and p = 0.1056
(i) P(Y = 4) = 0.00557 (ii) P(Y ≥ 1) = 0.591

29. Due to symmetry, we are able to find the probabilities of this question (a diagram helps).
(a) p = 0.94
(b) D = 10
(c) P(17 < H < 24) = 0.44
E(trees) = 200 × 0.44= 88

30. (a) P(weight >525 grams) = 0.0668

Expected number = 20000.0668 = 134
(b) Inverse Normal: P(X < Q3) = 0.75 OR P(X > Q3) = 0.25
Q3 = 484
(c) A new variable Y is defined which follows B(n,p) with n = 40 and p = 0.0668
(i) P(Y = 0) = 0.0629
(i) P(Y ≤ 3) = 0.723

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31. (a) P(T < 40) = 0.762 [use Ncd]
(b) P(T < t) = 0.90  t = 44.0 (min) [use InvN]
(c) X ~ B(10,0.762…)
P(X = 6) = 0.131

32. (a) (i) P(X < 925)=0.0668 (ii) P(925 < X < 1025)=0.624 (iii) P(X > 1025)=0.309
(b)

0.624
0.309
0.069
925 1000 1025
(c) -1.5 and 0.5 respectively
(d) similar to the above, but the boundaries on x-axis are -1.5 and 0.5

33. (a) P(H < 153) = 0.705

153  
Standardizing = 0.5388...
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  150.30 … = 150 (to 3sf)
(b) 0.128

34. P (W  220)  0.88

GDC – InvN gives z  1.175...
x 220  200
z  1.175     17 (grams)
 
23.7  21
35. (a) 0.84... =  σ = 3.21

(b) (i) P(X < 25.4) = 0.915
(ii) By symmetry: b = 21 – 4.4  b = 16.6

36. P(Z<z) = 0.017 z = –2.12

x 1  1.02
But z =  where x = 1 kg
 
1  1.02
Therefore = –2.12  = 0.00943 kg = 9.4 g

37. Let E(X) = ., z1 = 0.44, z2 = 1.53
10 =  + 0.44
12 =  + 1.53
1.53  10 – 0.44  12
=  E(X) = 9.19
1.53 – 0.44

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 X  100  
38. Z1    0.9542    0.9542  100
 
X  200  
Z2    0.1764    0.1764  200
 
μ = 184.4 σ = 88.45

39. X ~ N(, 2),

3 8
  0.8416 , 1.282
 
3   = 0.8416
8 −  = 1.282
 = 2.35,  = 4.99

40. P(X > 90) = 0.15 and P(X < 40) = 0.12
90   40  
1.036 = , – 1.175 =
 
µ = 66.6,  = 22.6

41.

42.
0.75

1–(a)

–a a

From the diagram using inverse normal, tail central, area = 0.75
a = 1.15

43. X  25  3  3  X  25  3  22  X  28
St. deviation:   2

P  X  25  3  P  22  X  28   0.866

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44. (a)
30.5%

11.9%

43.56 50.32

z 1= 1.18 z 2 = –0.51
50.32   43.56  
= 1.18 and = –0.51
 
Solving simultaneously
 50.32 =  + 1.18σ and 43.56 = µ – 0.51σ
 1.69σ = 6.76 σ = 4  µ = 45.6

(b) P(X – < 5) = P(40.6 < x < 50.6) = 0.789

B. Exam style questions (LONG)

45. X ~ N (7, 0.52)

(a) (i) P(X < 8) = 0.977 (ii) P(6 < X < 8) = 0.95
(b) (i)

d
(ii) d = 6.18
(c) Y ~ N(, 0.52), P(Y < 5) = 0.2
5
  0.8416  = 5.42
0.5

46. (a) Let X be the lifespan in hours, X ~ N(57, 4.42)

(i) a = –0.455 (3 sf) b = 0.682 (3 sf)
(ii) (a) P (X > 55) = 0.675 (b) P (55  X  60) = 0.428 (3 sf)

(b) 90% have died  shaded area = 0.9

0
t = 62.6 hours

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47. (a) Area A = 0.1
(b) EITHER
Since p (X  12) = p (X  8),
then 8 and 12 are symmetrical about the mean.
8  12
Thus mean = = 10
2
OR
12    8
  12 –  =  – 8   = 10
 

 12  10 
(c)   = 1.282
  
2
 = = 1.56 (3 sf)
1.282
(d) 0.739 (3 sf)

48. W ~ N(2.5, 0.32)

(a) (i) 0.048 (ii) 0.159
(iii)

2.5 kg

(iv) P = 0.7936
(b) (i) X ~ B(10, 0.7935...)
P(X = 10) = (0.7935...)10 OR P(X = 10) = 0.0990 (3 sf)
(ii) X ~ B(10, 0.7935...)
P(X  7) = 0.867

49. (a) P(W < 25) = 0.0808

(b) µ = 25.98 = 26.0 (3 sf)
(c) Clearly, by symmetry µ = 25.5
25.0  25.5
= –1.96  0.5 = 1.96σ

 σ = 0.255 kg

50. (a) P(X  84) = 0.0524

(b) x = 81.4 (accept 81)
(c) P(X  84) = 0.12  z = 1.1749...
mean is 88.3 (accept 88)

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51. Girls’height G ~ N(155,102), Boys’height B~ N(160,122)
(a) P(G > 170) = 0.0668
(b) x = 142
(c) r = 180 q = 140
(d) P(H > 170) = 0.60×0.0668 + 0.40×0.202 = 0.12088 = 0.121 (3 sf)
0.60  0.0668
(e) P(F H > 170) = = 0.332
0.121
52. (a) X ~ N(231, 1.52)
P(X < 228) = 0.0228
(b) (i) X ~ N(μ, 1.52)
228  
P(X < 228) = 0.002 = – 2.878...
1.5
μ = 232 grams

(ii) X ~ N(231, σ2)

228  231
= –2.878...

σ = 1.04 grams
(c) X ~ B(100, 0.002)
P(X  2) = 0.0174

53. (a) (i) Let X be the random variable “the weight of a bag of salt”.
Then X ~ N(110, σ2), where σ is the new standard deviation.
X  110
Given P(X < 108) = 0.07, let Z =

2
= –1.476  σ = 1.355.

(ii) Let the new mean be µ, then X ~ N(µ, 1.3552).
108  
= 1.751  µ = 110.37
1.355
(b) If the mean is 110.37 g then
X ~ N(110.37, 1.355), P(A < X < B) = 0.8
A = 108.63, B = 112.11

54. (a) B~N(1.63,0.162) , P(B < 1.52) = 0.24588… so 24.6%

(b) A~N(1.56,0.162) , P(A < 1.52) 0.40129
P( d < 1.52) = 0.44 × 0.40129 + 0.56 × 0.24588 = 0.314 (3 s.f.)
0.56  0.24588
(c) P  bolt produced by B d  1.52  = = 0.438
0.31426
(d) P(B >1.83) = 0.10564
P (1.52  B  1.83) =10.
 0.242
64846 0.10564
E(gain per bolt) = (0.24588)×(– 0.85) + (0. 64846)×(1.50) + (0.10564 )×( 0.50)= 0.81651
Expected gain = 8000 × 0.81651 = 6532 ($)

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55. K = length of Karl’s throw  N (59.50, 3.002)
I = length of Ian’s throw.  N (60.33, 1.952)
(a) P(K > 56) = 0.8783 so 87.8%
(b) P(I > x) = 0.80  x = 58.69 m
(c) (i) Y  N (59.50, 3.002) X  N (60.33, 1.952)
P(K  65) = 0.0334 P(I  65) = 0.00831
Karl is more likely to qualify since P(Y  65)  P(X  65)
(ii) For both athletes Binomial with n = 3, pK = 0.0334 pI = 0.00831
P (Karl qualifies) = P(XK ≥ 3) = 0.0969
P(Ian qualifies) = P(XI ≥ 3) = 0.0247
P(both qualify) = (0.0969) (0.0247) = 0.00239

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