Chapter 2: Problem 10
A sample data set with a bell-shaped distribution and size \(n=128\) has mean \(x^{\wedge}=2\) and standard deviation \(s=1.1\). Find the approximate number of observations in the data set that lie: a. below-0.2; b. below 3.1; c. between -1.3 and 0.9 .
Short Answer
Expert verified
3 below -0.2; 108 below 3.1; 20 between -1.3 and 0.9.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Empirical Rule
The Empirical Rule, or the 68-95-99.7 rule, tells us that for a bell-shaped distribution, about 68% of the data lies within one standard deviation of the mean, 95% within two, and 99.7% within three. We'll use this rule to estimate the number of observations.
02
Calculate Z-Scores for Each Boundary
The Z-score formula is \( Z = \frac{X - \bar{x}}{s} \).- For \(-0.2\), \( Z = \frac{-0.2 - 2}{1.1} \approx -2.0 \).- For \(3.1\), \( Z = \frac{3.1 - 2}{1.1} \approx 1.0 \).- For \(-1.3\), \( Z = \frac{-1.3 - 2}{1.1} \approx -3.0 \).- For \(0.9\), \( Z = \frac{0.9 - 2}{1.1} \approx -1.0 \).
03
Use the Standard Normal Table
Refer to a standard normal distribution table or calculator for the probabilities associated with the calculated Z-scores.- For \(Z = -2.0\), probability \( \approx 0.0228 \).- For \(Z = 1.0\), probability \( \approx 0.8413 \).- For \(Z = -3.0\), probability \( \approx 0.0013 \).- For \(Z = -1.0\), probability \( \approx 0.1587 \).
04
Calculate Observations for Each Interval
Multiply the probabilities by the total number of observations \(n = 128\) to find the number of observations.- Below \(-0.2\): \(0.0228 \times 128 = 2.9 \approx 3 \) observations.- Below \(3.1\): \(0.8413 \times 128 = 107.7 \approx 108 \) observations.- Between \(-1.3\) and \(0.9\): \((0.1587 - 0.0013) \times 128 = 20.1 \approx 20 \) observations.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Bell-Shaped Distribution
A bell-shaped distribution, often referred to as a normal distribution, is a type of probability distribution that is symmetrical and has a shape resembling a bell curve. This shape signifies that the data points are distributed in such a way that most of the data is concentrated around the mean.
- The highest point of the bell curve is the mean, which is the average value of the data set.
- The data falls away symmetrically on either side of the mean, with equal numbers of data points to the left and right.
Z-Score Calculation
Z-score calculation is an essential statistical tool used to determine how far away a particular data point is from the mean, measured in terms of standard deviations. The formula to calculate a Z-score is:\[ Z = \frac{X - \bar{x}}{s} \]where:
- \(X\) is the data point.
- \(\bar{x}\) is the mean of the data set.
- \(s\) is the standard deviation of the data set.
Standard Normal Distribution
The standard normal distribution is a special case of the normal distribution. It has a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1. This unique distribution is also known as the Z-distribution.
- Every normal distribution can be converted to a standard normal distribution using Z-scores.
- This transformation allows us to use a standard normal table, also known as the Z-table, to find probabilities.
Probability Estimation
Probability estimation involves calculating the likelihood that a data point falls within a particular range in a distribution. The Empirical Rule helps in estimating these probabilities for normal distributions.
Once Z-scores are calculated, we use these scores to find probabilities in the standard normal distribution table. This table provides the area under the curve to the left of a specific Z-score, representing the probability.
- In our example, we find probabilities for Z-scores such as -2.0 and 1.0 to estimate numbers below specific values.
- We also estimate ranges between different Z-scores, such as between -1.3 and 0.9.