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Consider a value to be significantly low if its \(z\) score is less than or equal to -2 or consider the value to be significantly high if its \(z\) score is greater than or equal to \(2 .\) In a recent year, scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) had a mean of 25.2 and a standard deviation of \(6.4 .\) Identify the MCAT scores that are significantly low or significantly high.

Short Answer

Expert verified
MCAT scores \(\leq 12.4\) are significantly low and scores \(\geq 38\) are significantly high.

Step by step solution

01

Recall the Formula for Z-Score

The z-score formula is used to determine how many standard deviations away a value is from the mean. The formula is given by: \[ z = \frac{x - \text{mean}}{\text{standard deviation}} \] Where: \(x\) is the value of the score, the \(\text{mean}\) is the average score, and the \(\text{standard deviation}\) measures the typical distance of scores from the mean.
02

Define Criteria for Significantly Low and High Scores

A score is considered significantly low if its z-score is less than or equal to \(-2\). A score is considered significantly high if its z-score is greater than or equal to \(2\).
03

Calculate the Threshold for Significantly Low Scores

We'll start by finding the score that corresponds to a z-score of \(-2\). Using the formula: \[ x = (z \times \text{standard deviation}) + \text{mean} \] For \(z = -2\), substituting the values we have: \[ x = (-2 \times 6.4) + 25.2 = -12.8 + 25.2 = 12.4 \] Therefore, any score \(\leq 12.4\) is considered significantly low.
04

Calculate the Threshold for Significantly High Scores

Next, we'll find the score that corresponds to a z-score of \(2\). Again using the formula: \[ x = (z \times \text{standard deviation}) + \text{mean} \] For \(z = 2\), substituting the values we have: \[ x = (2 \times 6.4) + 25.2 = 12.8 + 25.2 = 38 \] Therefore, any score \(\geq 38\) is considered significantly high.
05

Summarize the Findings

Scores on the MCAT are considered significantly low if they are \(\leq 12.4\) and significantly high if they are \(\geq 38\).

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

z-score
A z-score helps us understand how far a specific score is from the average value. It tells us how many standard deviations a value is away from the mean. To calculate it, we use the formula: \[ z = \frac{x - \text{mean}}{\text{standard deviation}} \]
  • x is the value of the score.
  • The mean is the average score.
  • The standard deviation shows the typical amount by which scores differ from the mean.
So, if a score has a high z-score, it's far from the mean and unusual. If it's low, it's close to the mean and typical. Breaking down this concept brings clarity and helps you see the bigger picture.
significantly low scores
Significantly low scores are those that stand out as extremely below average. In statistics, a score is considered significantly low if its z-score is \[ \text{z} \text{\≤} -2 \]This means the score is two or more standard deviations below the mean. To find such scores, use the formula:\[ x = (z \times \text{standard deviation}) + \text{mean} \]For example, with a mean score of 25.2 and a standard deviation of 6.4 in MCAT, any score \text\≤ 12.4\ would be significantly low. These scores are uncommon and point to underperformance.
significantly high scores
Significantly high scores are those that are much higher than the average. We consider these scores special because they stand out. A score is significantly high if its z-score is:\[ \text{z} \text{ \≥} 2 \]This means the score is at least two standard deviations above the mean. Using the formula: \[ x = (z \times \text{standard deviation}) + \text{mean} \]For the MCAT, with a mean score of 25.2 and standard deviation of 6.4, any score \≥ 38\ is significantly high. These scores imply a strong performance and are relatively rare.
standard deviation
Standard deviation is a key concept in statistics that measures the spread of scores around the mean. It tells us how much scores typically differ from the average. A smaller standard deviation indicates that the scores tend to be close to the mean, while a larger one indicates greater variability.
  • To calculate significantly low or high scores, standard deviation is crucial.
  • It helps us determine how unusual a score is in a dataset.
For instance, with a standard deviation of 6.4 in the MCAT scores, we know that most scores fall within 6.4 points of the mean of 25.2.
mean
The mean, or average, is the central value of a dataset. It's calculated by adding up all the scores and dividing by the number of scores. The mean provides a reference point for measuring how individual scores vary.
  • In the context of z-scores, the mean helps us understand if a score is higher or lower than average.
  • For the MCAT, the mean score is 25.2.
Knowing the mean allows us to calculate z-scores, which then help in identifying significantly low or high scores. It is a fundamental concept for any statistical analysis.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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