Problems on Normal Distribution

1. If a random variable has the standard normal distribution,

what are the probabilities that it will take on a value 10. Verify that
(a) Less than 1.64
(a)
z 0.005 =2. 575
(b) Greater than -0.47
(c) Greater than 0.76
(b)
z 0. 025 =1.96
(d) Less than -1.35
(e) Between 0.95 and 1.36
(f) Between -0.45 and 0.65 11. A random variable has a normal distribution with a mean
μ=60 and a standard deviation σ =5 .2 . What are the
2. Find the area under the curve between 12 and 15 for the probabilities that the random variable will take on a value
distribution with (a) less than 65.2
(a) μ=10, σ =5 (b) greater than 70.5
(c) between 61.0 and 66.2
(b) μ=20 , σ =10 (d) between 48 and 72

12. A normal distribution has a mean μ=161.5 . If 89% of the

3. If
area under the curve lies of the left of 4186.7, find
4.
z
If α denotes the value of z for which the area under the (a) to the left of 161.5
standard normal curve to its right is equal to α , find (b) the area to the right of 186.7
(c) the area between 161.5 and 486.7
(a)
z 0.01 (d) the standard deviation
z 0.05 (e) the area between 161.5 and 174.5
(b) (f) the area to the right of 174.5

5. Find the area under the standard normal curve which lies 13. A random variable has a normal distribution with a standard
(a) between z = 0 and z = 0.94 deviation of σ =12 . If the probability that a random
(b) between z = -2.15 and z = 0 variable will take on a value less than 193.4 is 0.8023, what
(c) to the right of z = 0.62 us the probability that it will take on a value greater than
(d) to the right of z = -0.93 189.8?
(e) to the left of z = 0.84
(f) to the left of z = -0.35 14. The lengths of the sardines received by a certain cannery
have a mean of 4.62 inches and a standard deviation of 0.23
6. Find the area under the standard normal curve which lies inch.
(a) between z = -0.36 and z = 0.36 (a) What percentage of all these sardines are longer
(b) between z = -0.71 and z = 1.99 than 5.00 inches?
(c) between z = 0.32 and z = 0.92 (b) What percentage of the sardines are between 4.35
(d) between z = -0.81 and z = -0.42 and 4.85 inches?
7. Find the are under the standard normal curve which lies 15. The actual amount of instant coffee which a
(a) between z = 0.59 and z = 0.59 filling machine puts into “6-ounce” cans
(b) to the right of z = -2.85 varies from can to can, and it may be
(c) to the left of z = -1.67 looked upon as a random variable having a
(d) between z = 2.35 and z = 2.50 normal distribution with a standard
(e) to the right of 0.35 deviation of 0.04 ounce. If only 2 percent of
(f) between z = -1.65 and z = -0.25 the cans contain less than 6 ounces of
coffee, what must the mean fill of these
8. Find z if the normal curve area cans be?
(a) between 0 and z is 0.4846
(b) to the left of z is 0.9983 16. A baker knows that the daily
(c) to the right of z is 0.7324 demand for whole pecan pies
(d) to the right of z is 0.2981 is a random variable with a
(e) to the left of z is 0.1314 distribution which can be
(f) between –z and z is 0.7286 approximated closely by a
normal distribution with a
9. Find the normal curve area between –z and z if
(a) z = 1 mean μ=43.3 pieces and a standard deviation of
(b) z = 2 σ =4 . 6 pieces. What is the probability that the demand
(c) z = 3 for these pies will exceed 50 pieces on any given day?
 24. If 40% of the applicants for a summer job program fails the
Note: The normal curve approximation to the binomial required written psychological test, what is the probability
distribution is particularly useful in problems where we would of getting fewer than 90 failing applicants for the program
otherwise have to use the formula μ=np and σ=√ npq . out of 250 training applications?

25. If 60% of all admission applications to a major university

17. What is the probability of getting at least 12 replies to
are refused, what is the probability that in a randomly
questionnaires to 100 persons when the probability is 0.18
selected group of 65 applications, more than 30 were not
that any one of them will reply?
refused?
18. An ambulance service has
26. A Promoter sponsors a series of business seminars for mid-
determined from experience
level executives. The promoter knows from experience that
that its emergency response
the probability is 0.16 that any person will respond to a
time to calls within the city is
mailing. What is the probability of getting
a random variable having an
(a) fewer than 200 responses to 1,500 invitations
approximately normal distribution with a
(b) more than 275 responses
mean μ=6 .2 minutes and σ =3 .6 minutes. What are the
probabilities of an ambulance responding to an emergency 27. The waiting time between buses in a public transportation
call within the city limits system is a random variable which has a normal distribution
(a) in less than 5 minutes with a mean of 10.5 minutes and a standard deviation of
(b) in 5 to 7 minutes 0.25 minute. What is the probability that the wait between
(c) in more than 7 minutes buses will be
(a) less than 9.75 minutes
19. An analysis of local area telephone calls made form a (b) more than 11.15 minutes
business office shows that the time of the calls is a random (c) between 10.4 and 10.6 minutes
variable having approximately a normal distribution with a
mean of 125.7 seconds and a standard deviation of 28. Find the values of
30seconds. What percentage of these calls
(a)
z 0.02
(a) exceed 3 minutes
(b) are at most 2 minutes
(b)
z 0.1
(c) are between 120 and 180 seconds
29. The manager of a finance company knows from experience
20. A purveyor of gourmet foods blends coffee for sale. One
that the number of loan applications received in his office
pound of brand A makes, on the average, 50.8 cups of
during a week is a random variable with a mean of 66.4 and
coffee with a standard deviation of 3.3 cups. One pound of
a standard deviation of 10.9. |Assuming that the distribution
brand B makes, on the average, 51.2 cups of coffee with a
of the number of loan applications is approximately normal,
standard deviation of 4.6 cups. Assuming normal
what is the probability that the office will receive in one
distributions, which brand of coffee is more likely to
week
provide at least 50 cups of coffee to the pound?
(a) more than 75 applications
(b) at least 75 applications
21. A retail appliance store owner knows from experience that
(c) between 65 and 75 applications
the number of LED flat screen television sets he sells each
month is a random variable having approximately a normal
30. A computer printer manufacturer claims that 20 percent of
distribution with a mean of 32.3 units and a standard
all printer breakdowns are caused by failure of customers to
deviation of 4.2 units. What are the probabilities that in any
follow operating procedures. If this claim is correct, what is
given month, he will sell exactly 25 LED flat screen
the probability that among 100 breakdowns, more than 25
television sets?
percent were caused by the failure of customers to follow
operating procedures?
22. A swimming pool club manager knows from the past years
that the number of children which each member brings to
31. In a copying process, the copy time for a page may be
the pool at any given session is a random variable having
considered a random variable having an approximately
approximately a normal distribution with a mean of 3.1 and
normal distribution with a mean of 12.32 seconds and a
a standard deviation of 0.56. Among 200 members, how
standard deviation of 0.08 second. Find the probability that
many can be expected to bring 2 – 4 children to the pool in
the time required to copy a page will be
a session?
(a) At least 12.5 seconds
23. If 22 percent of the men who examine neckties at a
(b) Less than 12.2 seconds
haberdashery store actually make ta purchase, what is the
(c) Between 12.3 and 12.5 seconds
probability that among 275 men who examine the neckties,
at least 65 will make the purchase?
32. Find the z-score if the normal curve area
(a) between 0 and z is 0.1985
(b) to the right of z is 0.9370
(c) to the right of z is 0.0262
(d) between –z and z is 0.2662.