NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

Problems and applications on normal distributions are presented. The answers to these problems are at the
bottom of the page. Also an online normal distribution probability calculator may be useful to check your answers.
X is a normally normally distributed variable with mean = 30 and standard deviation = 4. Find
a) P(x < 40)
b) P(x > 21)
c) P(30 < x < 35)

A radar unit is used to measure speeds of cars on a motorway. The speeds are normally distributed with a mean of
90 km/hr and a standard deviation of 10 km/hr. What is the probability that a car picked at random is travelling at
more than 100 km/hr?

For a certain type of computers, the length of time bewteen charges of the battery is normally distributed with a
mean of 50 hours and a standard deviation of 15 hours. John owns one of these computers and wants to know the
probability that the length of time will be between 50 and 70 hours.

Entry to a certain University is determined by a national test. The scores on this test are normally distributed with
a mean of 500 and a standard deviation of 100. Tom wants to be admitted to this university and he knows that he
must score better than at least 70% of the students who took the test. Tom takes the test and scores 585. Will he
be admitted to this university?

The length of similar components produced by a company are approximated by a normal distribution model with a
mean of 5 cm and a standard deviation of 0.02 cm. If a component is chosen at random
a) what is the probability that the length of this component is between 4.98 and 5.02 cm?
b) what is the probability that the length of this component is between 4.96 and 5.04 cm?

The length of life of an instrument produced by a machine has a normal ditribution with a mean of 12 months and
standard deviation of 2 months. Find the probability that an instrument produced by this machine will last
a) less than 7 months.
b) between 7 and 12 months.

The time taken to assemble a car in a certain plant is a random variable having a normal distribution of 20 hours
and a standard deviation of 2 hours. What is the probability that a car can be assembled at this plant in a period of
time
a) less than 19.5 hours?
b) between 20 and 22 hours?

A large group of students took a test in Physics and the final grades have a mean of 70 and a standard deviation of
10. If we can approximate the distribution of these grades by a normal distribution, what percent of the students
a) scored higher than 80?
b) should pass the test (grades60)?
c) should fail the test (grades<60)?

The annual salaries of employees in a large company are approximateley normally distributed with a mean of
$50,000 and a standard deviation of $20,000.
a) What percent of people earn less than $40,000?
b) What percent of people earn between $45,000 and $65,000?
c) What percent of people earn more than $70,000?
Answers to the Above Questions
Note: What is meant here by area is the area under the standard normal curve.
a) For x = 40, the z-value z = (40 - 30) / 4 = 2.5
Hence P(x < 40) = P(z < 2.5) = [area to the left of 2.5] = 0.9938
b) For x = 21, z = (21 - 30) / 4 = -2.25
Hence P(x > 21) = P(z > -2.25) = [total area] - [area to the left of -2.25]
= 1 - 0.0122 = 0.9878
c) For x = 30 , z = (30 - 30) / 4 = 0 and for x = 35, z = (35 - 30) / 4 = 1.25
Hence P(30 < x < 35) = P(0 < z < 1.25) = [area to the left of z = 1.25] - [area to the left of 0]
= 0.8944 - 0.5 = 0.3944

Let x be the random variable that represents the speed of cars. x has = 90 and = 10. We have to find the
probability that x is higher than 100 or P(x > 100)
For x = 100 , z = (100 - 90) / 10 = 1
P(x > 90) = P(z >, 1) = [total area] - [area to the left of z = 1]
= 1 - 0.8413 = 0.1587
The probability that a car selected at a random has a speed greater than 100 km/hr is equal to 0.1587

Let x be the random variable that represents the length of time. It has a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 15.
We have to find the probability that x is between 50 and 70 or P( 50< x < 70)

For x = 50 , z = (50 - 50) / 15 = 0

For x = 70 , z = (70 - 50) / 15 = 1.33 (rounded to 2 decimal places)
P( 50< x < 70) = P( 0< z < 1.33) = [area to the left of z = 1.33] - [area to the left of z = 0]
= 0.9082 - 0.5 = 0.4082
The probability that John's computer has a length of time between 50 and 70 hours is equal to 0.4082.

Let x be the random variable that represents the scores. x is normally ditsributed with a mean of 500 and a
standard deviation of 100. The total area under the normal curve represents the total number of students who
took the test. If we multiply the values of the areas under the curve by 100, we obtain percentages.
For x = 585 , z = (585 - 500) / 100 = 0.85
The proportion P of students who scored below 585 is given by
P = [area to the left of z = 0.85] = 0.8023 = 80.23%
Tom scored better than 80.23% of the students who took the test and he will be admitted to this University.

a) P(4.98 < x < 5.02) = P(-1 < z < 1)

= 0.6826
b) P(4.96 < x < 5.04) = P(-2 < z < 2)
= 0.9544

a) P(x < 7) = P(z < -2.5)

= 0.0062
b) P(7 < x < 12) = P(-2.5 < z < 0)
= 0.4938

a) P(x < 19.5) = P(z < -0.25)

= 0.4013
b) P(20 < x < 22) = P(0 < z < 1)
= 0.3413

a) For x = 80, z = 1
Area to the right (higher than) z = 1 is equal to 0.1586 = 15.87% scored more that 80.
b) For x = 60, z = -1
Area to the right of z = -1 is equal to 0.8413 = 84.13% should pass the test.
c)100% - 84.13% = 15.87% should fail the test.

a) For x = 40000, z = -0.5

Area to the left (less than) of z = -0.5 is equal to 0.3085 = 30.85% earn less than $40,000.
b) For x = 45000 , z = -0.25 and for x = 65000, z = 0.75
Area between z = -0.25 and z = 0.75 is equal to 0.3720 = 37.20 earn between $45,000 and $65,000.
c)For x = 70000, z = 1
Area to the right (higher) of z = 1 is equal to 0.1586 = 15.86% earn more than $70,000.

MEAN AND STANDARD DEVIATION

Mean and standard deviation problems are presented. Problems related to data sets as well as grouped data are
discussed. The solutions to these problems are at the bottom of the page.
Consider the following three data sets A, B and C.
A = {9,10,11,7,13}
B = {10,10,10,10,10} Find
C = {1,1,10,19,19}
a) Calculate the mean of each data set.
b) Calculate the standard deviation of each data set.
c) Which set has the largest standard deviation?
d) Is it possible to answer question c) without calculations of the standard deviation?

A given data set has a mean and a standard deviation .

a) What are the new values of the mean and the standard deviation if the same constant k is added to each data
value in the given set?Explain.
b) What are the new values of the mean and the standard deviation if each data value of the set is multiplied by
the same constant k?Explain.

If the standard deviation of a given data set is equal to zero, what can we say about the data values included in the
given data set?

The frequency table of the monthly slaries of 20 people is shown below.

salary(in $)

frequency

3500

4000

4200

4300

a) Calculate the mean of the salaries of the 20 people.

b) Calculate the standard deviation of the salaries of the 20 people.

The following table shows the grouped data, in classes, for the heights of 50 people.
height (in cm) - classes

frequency

120 <- 130

130 <- 140

140 <- 150

25

150 <- 160

10

160 <- 170

a) Calculate the mean of the salaries of the 20 people.

b) Calculate the standard deviation of the salaries of the 20 people.

mean of Data set A = (9+10+11+7+13)/5 = 10

mean of Data set B = (10+10+10+10+10)/5 = 10
mean of Data set C = (1+1+10+19+19)/5 = 10

Standard Deviation Data set A

2

= * ( (9-10) +(10-10) +(11-10) +(7-10) +(13-10) )/5 ] = 2

Standard Deviation Data set B
2

= * ( (10-10) +(10-10) +(10-10) +(10-10) +(10-10) )/5 ] = 0

Standard Deviation Data set C

= * ( (1-10) +(1-10) +(10-10) +(19-10) +(19-10) )/5 ] = 8.05

Data set C has the largest standard deviation.
Yes, since data Set C has data values that are further away from the mean compared to sets A and B.
We limit the discusion to a data set with 3 values for simplicity, but the conclusions are true for any data set with
quantitative data.
Let x, y and z be the data values making a data set.
The mean = (x + y + z) / 3
2

The standard deviation = * ((x - ) + (y - ) + (z - ) )/3 ]

We now add a constant k to each data value and calculate the new mean '.
' = ((x + k) + (y + k) + (z + k)) / 3 = (x + y + z) / 3 + 3k/3 = + k
We now calculate the new mean standard deviation '.
2

' = * ((x + k - ') +(y + k - ') +(z + k - ') )/3 ]

Note that x + k - ' = x + k - - k = x -
also y + k - ' = y + k - - k = y - and z + k - ' = z + k - - k = z -
2

Therefore ' = * ((x - ) +(y - ) +(z - ) )/3 + =

If we add the same constant k to all data values included in a data set, we obtain a new data set whose mean is the
mean of the original data set PLUS k. The standard deviation does not change.
We now multiply all data values by a constant k and calculate the new mean ' and the new standard deviation '.
' = (kx + ky + kz) / 3 = k
2

' = * ((kx - k) +(ky - k) +(kz - k) )/3 + = |k|

If we admultiply all data values included in a data set by a constant k, we obtain a new data set whose mean is the
mean of the original data set TIMES k and standard deviation is the standard deviation of the original data set
TIMES the absolute value of k.
Again, we limit the discusion to a data set with 4 values for simplicity, but the conclusions are true for any data set
with quantitative data.
Let x, y, z and w be the data values making a data set with mean .
2

The standard deviation = * ((x - ) + (y - ) + (z - ) + (w - ) )/3 ]

Let = 0, hence
2

* ((x - ) + (y - ) + (z - ) + (w - ) )/3 ] = 0
Which gives

(x - ) + (y - ) + (z - ) + (w - ) = 0
All terms in the equation are positive and therefore, the above equation is equivalent to
2

(x - ) = 0, (y - ) = 0, (z - ) = 0 and (w - ) = 0.
Which gives
x = y = z = w = : all data values in the set with = 0 are equal.

Let xi be the i th salary and fi be the corresponding frequency.

mean of grouped data = = (xi*fi) / fi
= (3500*5 + 4000*8 + 4200*5 + 4300*2) /(5 + 8 + 5 + 2)
= $3955
2

b) standard deviation of grouped data = * ((x i-) *fi) / fi ]

2

= * (5*(3500-3955) +8*(4000-3955) +5*(4200-3955) +2*(4300-3955) ) /(20) ]

= 282 (rounded to the nearest unit)
We first find the midpoints of the given classes.
height (in cm) - classes

midpoint

frequency

120 <- 130

125

130 <- 140

135

140 <- 150

145

25

150 <- 160

155

10

160 <- 170

165

Let mi be the midpoint of the i th clss and fi be the corresponding frequency.

mean of grouped data = = (mi*fi) / fi
= (125*2 + 135*5 + 145*25 + 155*10 + 165*8) /(2+5+25+10+8)
= 148.4
2

b) standard deviation of grouped data = * ((mi-) *fi) / fi ]

2

= * (2*(125-148.4) +5*(135-148.4) +25*(145-148.4) +10*(155-148.4) +8*(165-148.4) ) /(50) ]

= 9.9
NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

The amount of mustard dispensed from a machine at The Hotdog Emporium is normally distributed with a mean of
0.9 ounce and a standard deviation of 0.1 ounce. If the machine is used 500 times, approximately how many times
will it be expected to dispense 1 or more ounces of mustard.
ANSWER:
The mean is 0.9 and the standard deviation is 0.1. If one standard deviation is added to the mean, the result is 1.0
ounce. Therefore, dispensing 1 or more ounces falls into the category above one standard deviation to the right of
the mean. Reading from the bell curve chart, 15.9% of data falls at or above 1 standard deviation.
15.9% x 500 = 79.5 or approximately 80 times to dispense one or more ounces of mustard.
2. Professor Halen has 184 students in his college mathematics lecture class. The scores on the midterm exam are
normally distributed with a mean of 72.3 and a standard deviation of 8.9. How many students in the class can be
expected to receive a score between 82 and 90? Express answer to the nearest student.
mean plus one standard deviation = 81.2
mean plus two standard deviation = 90.1
Since this range does not match our needed 82 to 90, we utilize the graphing calculator to get a more accurate
answer.
ShadeNorm(82, 90, 72.3, 8.9)

11.4518% of 184 students = 21 students

(to the nearest student)
A machine is used to fill soda bottles. The amount of soda dispensed into each bottle varies slightly.
Suppose the amount of soda dispensed into the bottles is normally distributed. If at least 99% of the bottles
must have between 585 and 595 milliliters of soda, find the greatest standard deviation, to the nearest
hundredth, that can be allowed.
The 99% implies a distribution within 3 standard deviations of the mean. The difference from 585 milliliters
to 595 milliliters is 10 milliliters. Symmetrically divided, there are 5 milliliters used to create 3 standard
deviations on one side of the mean. Dividing 5 by 3, we get the standard deviation to be 1.67 milliliters, to
the nearest hundredth.
A group of 625 students has a mean age of 15.8 years with a standard deviation of 0.6 years. The ages are
normally distributed. How many students are younger than 16.2 years? Express answer to the nearest student?
625 students, mean age of 15.8 years, standard deviation of 0.6 years.
mean + 1 standard deviation = 16.4
mean + 0.5 standard deviations = 16.1
These values of 16.4 and 16.1, which could be determined by using the chart, are not exactly the 16.2 that we need
to solve this problem. The most accurate answer will be found using the calculator.

74.7508 % of the students will be less than 16.2 years old.

Answer: 467 students

POISSON
A life insurance salesman sells on the average 3 life insurance policies per week. Use Poisson's law to calculate the
probability that in a given week he will sell
Some policies
2 or more policies but less than 5 policies.
Assuming that there are 5 working days per week, what is the probability that in a given day he will sell one policy?
Here, = 3
(a) "Some policies" means "1 or more policies". We can work this out by finding 1 minus the "zero policies"
probability:
P(X > 0) = 1 P(x0)
Now P(X)=exx! so P(x0)=e3300!=4.9787102
Therefore the probability of 1 or more policies is given by:
Probability=P(X0)=1P(x0)=14.97871010=0.95021
(b) The probability of selling 2 or more, but less than 5 policies is:
P(2X<5)=P(x2)+P(x3)+P(x4)=e3322!+e3333!+e3344!=0.61611
(c) Average number of policies sold per day: 35=0.6
So on a given day, P(X)=e0.6(0.6)11!=0.32929
If electricity power failures occur according to a Poisson distribution with an average of 3 failures every twenty
weeks, calculate the probability that there will not be more than one failure during a particular week.
The average number of failures per week is: =320=0.15
"Not more than one failure" means we need to include the probabilities for "0 failures" plus "1 failure".
P(x0)+P(x1) =e0.150.1500!+e0.150.1511! =0.98981
Vehicles pass through a junction on a busy road at an average rate of 300 per hour.
Find the probability that none passes in a given minute.
What is the expected number passing in two minutes?
Find the probability that this expected number actually pass through in a given two-minute period.
The average number of cars per minute is: =30060=5
(a) P(x0)=e5500!=6.7379103
(b) Expected number each 2 minutes = E(X) = 5 2 = 10
(c) Now, with = 10, we have: P(x10)=e10101010!=0.12511

A company makes electric motors. The probability an electric motor is defective is 0.01. What is the probability
that a sample of 300 electric motors will contain exactly 5 defective motors?
The average number of defectives in 300 motors is = 0.01 300 = 3
The probability of getting 5 defectives is:
P(X)=e3355!=0.10082
NOTE: This problem looks similar to a binomial distribution problem, that we met in the last section.
If we do it using binomial, with n=300, x=5, p=0.01 and q=0.99, we get:
5
295
P(X = 5) = C(300,5)(0.01) (0.99) = 0.10099
We see that the result is very similar. We can use binomial distribution to approximate Poisson distribution (and
vice-versa) under certain circumstances.
BINOMIAL
A test consists of 10 multiple choice questions with five choices for each question. As an experiment, you GUESS
on each and every answer without even reading the questions.
What is the probability of getting exactly 6 questions correct on this test?
Solution:
n = 10
r=6
nr=4
p = 0.20 = probability of guessing the correct answer on a question
q = 1 - p = 0.80 = probability of not guessing the correct answer on a question

When rolling a die 100 times, what is the probability of rolling a "4" exactly 25 times?
Solution:
n = 100
r = 25
n r = 75
p = 1/6 = probability of rolling a "4"
q = 1 - p = 5/6 = probability of not rolling a "4"

3. At a certain intersection, the light for eastbound traffic is red for 15 seconds, yellow for 5 seconds, and green
for 30 seconds. Find the probability that out of the next eight eastbound cars that arrive randomly at the light,
exactly three will be stopped by a red light.
Solution:
n=8
r=3
nr=5
p = 15/50 = probability of a red light
q = 1 - p = 35/50 = probability of not a red light