Chapter 4: Problem 30
Find the following percentiles for the standard normal distribution. Interpolate where appropriate. a. 91 st b. 9 th c. 75 th d. 25 th e. 6 th
Short Answer
Expert verified
Use the Z-table to find z-scores: 91st ~ 1.34, 9th ~ -1.34, 75th ~ 0.67, 25th ~ -0.67, 6th ~ -1.55.
Step by step solution
01
Understanding Percentiles and the Z-Table
Percentiles indicate the value below which a given percentage of observations in a dataset fall. For a standard normal distribution, we use the Z-table to determine the z-score that corresponds to a specific percentile.
02
Finding the Z-Score for the 91st Percentile
Locate 0.9100 in the cumulative probability section of the Z-table. The closest value is typically found, and its corresponding z-score is recorded. If 0.9100 falls between two values, interpolate between the two closest Z-values.
03
Finding the Z-Score for the 9th Percentile
Locate 0.0900 in the cumulative probability section of the Z-table. Record the corresponding z-score, interpolating if 0.0900 falls between two table values.
04
Finding the Z-Score for the 75th Percentile
Find 0.7500 in the cumulative probability section of the Z-table. The corresponding z-score is noted, interpolating if necessary.
05
Finding the Z-Score for the 25th Percentile
Identify 0.2500 in the cumulative probability section of the Z-table and note the z-score, using interpolation if 0.2500 falls between two values.
06
Finding the Z-Score for the 6th Percentile
Locate 0.0600 in the Z-table and note the corresponding z-score, interpolating if 0.0600 falls between two table entries.
07
Final Review and Conclusion
Verify all calculated z-scores with the Z-table to ensure accuracy, ensuring interpolation methods were applied correctly if needed.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Percentiles
Percentiles are a way to understand the distribution of a data set by dividing up the values into 100 equal parts. If you think of a percentile as a score on a test, a score like the 91st percentile indicates that 91% of scores are below it. Here's how percentiles work within any distribution:
- The 50th percentile is the median. Half of the values are above it, and half are below.
- The 25th and 75th percentiles are known as the first and third quartiles, framing the middle 50% of your data.
- Low percentiles (e.g., 9th) are closer to the minimum, while high percentiles (e.g., 91st) approach the maximum.
Z-table
The Z-table is a crucial tool for statistics, detailing the cumulative probabilities of the standard normal distribution. It's a matrix that helps you find the area under the normal curve to the left of a given z-score. The Z-table makes it easy to convert percentiles into z-scores, which represent the number of standard deviations a given value is from the mean. To use it effectively:
- Find your desired percentile in the form of a probability (e.g., 0.9100 for 91%).
- Locate this probability in the Z-table, which is arranged in rows and columns representing z-scores.
- Each cell in the table reveals the probability from the left-most end of the curve up to a specific z-score.
Z-score
The z-score is a standard score indicating how many standard deviations an element is from the mean of the distribution. In a standard normal distribution, the mean is zero, and the z-score provides a precise location on the bell curve:
- A z-score of 0 is the mean value.
- Positive z-scores fall above the mean, moving right on the bell curve.
- Negative z-scores are below the mean, moving left on the curve.
Interpolation
Interpolation is a mathematical method used to estimate unknown values that lie between known data points. In the context of a Z-table, interpolation comes in when the exact percentile you need does not directly match an entry in the table. Here's how to interpolate between two values:
- Identify the two closest cumulative probabilities around your target percentile.
- Determine the z-scores corresponding to these probabilities.
- Calculate the interpolated z-score by averaging the differences proportionally based on how close the target percentile is to these values.