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Ch. 5 - Normal Probability Distributions
Larson - Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World 8th Edition
Larson8th EditionElementary Statistics: Picturing the WorldISBN: 9780137493470Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 5, Problem 5.3.24

Finding a z-Score Given an Area In Exercises 23–30, find the indicated z-score.


Find the z-score that has 78.5% of the distribution’s area to its left.

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Step 1: Understand the problem. The z-score represents the number of standard deviations a data point is from the mean in a standard normal distribution. Here, we are tasked with finding the z-score such that 78.5% of the distribution's area lies to its left.
Step 2: Recall that the cumulative area to the left of a z-score in a standard normal distribution can be found using a z-table, statistical software, or a calculator with statistical functions. The cumulative area corresponds to the probability given in the problem, which is 0.785.
Step 3: Use the z-table or statistical software to find the z-score that corresponds to a cumulative probability of 0.785. In a z-table, locate the value closest to 0.785 in the body of the table, and then identify the corresponding z-score from the row and column headers.
Step 4: If using a calculator or statistical software, use the inverse cumulative distribution function (often denoted as invNorm or similar) to input the cumulative probability of 0.785 and obtain the z-score.
Step 5: Interpret the result. The z-score you find will indicate how many standard deviations above or below the mean the point is, such that 78.5% of the distribution's area lies to its left.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Z-Score

A z-score is a statistical measurement that describes a value's relationship to the mean of a group of values. It indicates how many standard deviations an element is from the mean. A positive z-score indicates the value is above the mean, while a negative z-score indicates it is below. Z-scores are essential for standardizing scores on different scales and for comparing data points from different distributions.
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Standard Normal Distribution

The standard normal distribution is a special case of the normal distribution where the mean is 0 and the standard deviation is 1. It is symmetrical and bell-shaped, allowing for the use of z-scores to find probabilities and percentiles. The area under the curve represents the total probability, and specific z-scores correspond to specific areas, making it crucial for determining probabilities in statistics.
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Area Under the Curve

In the context of the normal distribution, the area under the curve represents the probability of a random variable falling within a particular range. For a given z-score, the area to the left indicates the proportion of the distribution that is less than that z-score. This concept is vital for finding z-scores corresponding to specific probabilities, such as the 78.5% area mentioned in the question.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Finding Area

In Exercises 23–36, find the indicated area under the standard normal curve. If convenient, use technology to find the area.


To the left of z=1.365

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Textbook Question

In Exercises 1–4, the sample size n, probability of success p, and probability of failure q are given for a binomial experiment. Determine whether you can use a normal distribution to approximate the distribution of x.

n=18, p=0.90, q=0.10

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Textbook Question

Paint Cans A machine is set to fill paint cans with a mean of 128 ounces and a standard deviation of 0.2 ounce. A random sample of 40 cans has a mean of 127.9 ounces. The machine needs to be reset when the mean of a random sample is unusual. Does the machine need to be reset? Explain.

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Textbook Question

Approximating a Binomial Distribution In Exercises 17 and 18, a binomial experiment is given. Determine whether you can use a normal distribution to approximate the binomial distribution. If you can, find the mean and standard deviation. If you cannot, explain why.


Bachelor’s Degrees Twenty-two percent of adults over 18 years of age have a bachelor’s degree. You randomly select 20 adults over 18 years of age and ask whether they have a bachelor’s degree.

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Textbook Question

Bags of Baby Carrots The weights of bags of baby carrots are normally distributed, with a mean of 32 ounces and a standard deviation of 0.36 ounce. Bags in the upper 4.5% are too heavy and must be repackaged. What is the most a bag of baby carrots can weigh and not need to be repackaged?

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Textbook Question

True or False? In Exercises 5–8, determine whether the statement is true or false. If it is false, rewrite it as a true statement.


As the sample size increases, the standard deviation of the distribution of sample means increases.

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