Chapter 6: Problem 7
Assume that \(x\) has a normal distribution with the specified mean and standard deviation. Find the indicated probabilities. $$ P(50 \leq x \leq 70) ; \mu=40 ; \sigma=15 $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The probability is approximately 0.2286.
Step by step solution
01
Standardize the Variables
To find the probability for a normal distribution, we first need to convert our specified range of values for \(x\) into a standard normal distribution (Z-score). This standardization is done using the formula: \[ Z = \frac{x - \mu}{\sigma} \]where \( \mu = 40 \) and \( \sigma = 15 \).
02
Calculate Z-scores
First, compute the Z-score for \(x = 50\):\[ Z_1 = \frac{50 - 40}{15} = \frac{10}{15} = 0.67 \]Next, calculate the Z-score for \(x = 70\):\[ Z_2 = \frac{70 - 40}{15} = \frac{30}{15} = 2.00 \]
03
Use Z-table to Find Probabilities
Using the Z-table, find the probability corresponding to each Z-score. - For \(Z = 0.67\), the table gives a probability of approximately 0.7486.- For \(Z = 2.00\), the table gives a probability of approximately 0.9772.
04
Calculate the Probability for the Range
The probability that \(x\) is between 50 and 70 can be found by subtracting the probability of \(Z_1\) from the probability of \(Z_2\):\[ P(0.67 \leq Z \leq 2.00) = P(Z \leq 2.00) - P(Z \leq 0.67) = 0.9772 - 0.7486 = 0.2286 \]
05
Conclusion
Thus, the probability that a normally distributed random variable \(x\) is between 50 and 70, with a mean \(\mu = 40\) and a standard deviation \(\sigma = 15\), is 0.2286.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Mean and Standard Deviation
When dealing with a normal distribution, two key statistics are essential: the mean (bc) and the standard deviation (c3).
- The **mean** is simply the average of all the values in the distribution. In your problem, this is 40, and it represents the central location of the data.
- The **standard deviation** measures how spread out the values in the dataset are around the mean. A larger standard deviation means a wider spread of values. Here, the standard deviation is 15, indicating the data is spread over a moderate range around the mean.
Z-score
The Z-score is a way of standardizing scores to compare them within the context of a normal distribution. Simply put, it measures how many standard deviations an element is from the mean.
- To find the Z-score for a value, you use the formula: \[ Z = \frac{x - \mu}{\sigma} \]
- This formula converts a normal distribution to a **standard normal distribution**, which has a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1.
Probability
Probability in statistics is a measure of the likelihood that an event will occur. In the context of a normal distribution, we are often interested in the probability that a value falls within a certain range.
- Using the Z-scores for the endpoints of your range, you interpret these scores with a **Z-table** to find corresponding probabilities.
- The Z-table tells you the probability that a value is less than a given Z-score in the standard normal distribution.
Standard Normal Distribution
A standard normal distribution, often represented by a bell-shaped curve, has specific characteristics that make it valuable for statistical analysis. It has a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1. This simple structure helps statisticians make quick, relevant decisions about data.
- When you standardize a normal distribution by converting raw scores into Z-scores, you effectively map the original data onto the standard normal distribution.
- This makes it easier to find the probabilities associated with different ranges of data by using a Z-table.