Chapter 5: Problem 10
People with \(z\) -scores above 2.5 on an IQ test are sometimes classified as geniuses. If IQ scores have a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 16 points, what IQ score do you need to be considered a genius?
Short Answer
Expert verified
An IQ score of 140 is needed to be considered a genius.
Step by step solution
01
Understanding the Problem
We know that someone is classified as a genius if their z-score on an IQ test is above 2.5. Given that IQ scores are normally distributed with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 16 points, we are tasked with finding the IQ score corresponding to a z-score of 2.5.
02
Z-score Formula
The z-score indicates how many standard deviations an element is from the mean. The formula to calculate the z-score is: \( z = \frac{x - \mu}{\sigma} \), where \(z\) is the z-score, \(x\) is the value, \(\mu\) is the mean, and \(\sigma\) is the standard deviation.
03
Setting Up the Equation
We are given a z-score of 2.5, a mean \(\mu = 100\), and a standard deviation \(\sigma = 16\). We only need to compute the IQ score \(x\) using the z-score formula: \( 2.5 = \frac{x - 100}{16} \).
04
Solving for the IQ Score
To find \(x\), we can rearrange the equation: \[ x - 100 = 2.5 \times 16 \]. Then solve for \(x\): \[ x = 2.5 \times 16 + 100 \].
05
Computing the Final Answer
Calculate the multiplication: \[ 2.5 \times 16 = 40 \]. Add this to the mean: \[ x = 40 + 100 = 140 \].
06
Conclusion
An IQ score of 140 or greater is needed to be classified as a genius according to the given criteria.
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Z-Score
In statistics, a Z-score tells us how many standard deviations a data point is from the mean of the dataset. It helps compare individual scores to the overall distribution, usually in a normal distribution. Here’s how it works:
- The Z-score is calculated using the formula: \( z = \frac{x - \mu}{\sigma} \), where:
- \( z \) is the Z-score.
- \( x \) is the score being examined.
- \( \mu \) is the mean of the dataset.
- \( \sigma \) is the standard deviation of the dataset.
Standard Deviation
Standard deviation is a key concept to understanding the spread or dispersion of a dataset. It tells us how much the individual values in a dataset differ from the mean.
- The smaller the standard deviation, the closer the data points are to the mean.
- A larger standard deviation indicates that the data points are spread out over a wider range of values.
IQ Test
IQ, or Intelligence Quotient, tests are designed to measure human intelligence. They quantify cognitive abilities relative to an average score, usually set at 100.
- IQ scores follow a normal distribution, with most people scoring near the average.
- The spread or distribution of scores is expressed in terms of standard deviation.
Mean
The mean, often known as the average, is a central concept in statistics. It is calculated by adding all the numbers in a dataset and then dividing by the total amount of numbers.
- In normal distributions, the mean often represents the center point of the data.
- For IQ scores, the mean is typically set at 100, reflecting the central tendency of intelligence in the population.