Normal distribution - exercises [69 marks]

1. [Maximum mark: 5] 22M.1.SL.TZ2.10

The masses of Fuji apples are normally distributed with a mean of 163 g and a
standard deviation of 6. 83 g.

When Fuji apples are picked, they are classified as small, medium, large or extra
large depending on their mass. Large apples have a mass of between 172 g and
183 g.

(a) Determine the probability that a Fuji apple selected at random

will be a large apple. [2]

Approximately 68% of Fuji apples have a mass within the medium-sized

category, which is between k and 172 g.

(b) Find the value of k. [3]

2. [Maximum mark: 6] 22M.1.SL.TZ1.8
A factory produces bags of sugar with a labelled weight of 500 g. The weights of
the bags are normally distributed with a mean of 500 g and a standard
deviation of 3 g.

(a) Write down the percentage of bags that weigh more than
500 g. [1]

A bag that weighs less than 495 g is rejected by the factory for being
underweight.

(b) Find the probability that a randomly chosen bag is rejected for
being underweight. [2]

(c) A bag that weighs more than k grams is rejected by the factory
for being overweight. The factory rejects 2% of bags for being
overweight.

Find the value of k. [3]

3. [Maximum mark: 14] 21N.2.SL.TZ0.5
Arianne plays a game of darts.

The distance that her darts land from the centre, O, of the board can be
modelled by a normal distribution with mean 10 cm and standard deviation
3 cm.

Find the probability that

(a.i) a dart lands less than 13 cm from O. [2]

(a.ii) a dart lands more than 15 cm from O. [1]

Each of Arianne’s throws is independent of her previous throws.

(b) Find the probability that Arianne throws two consecutive darts
that land more than 15 cm from O. [2]

In a competition a player has three darts to throw on each turn. A point is scored
if a player throws all three darts to land within a central area around O. When
Arianne throws a dart the probability that it lands within this area is 0. 8143.

(c) Find the probability that Arianne does not score a point on a
turn of three darts.
 [2]

In the competition Arianne has ten turns, each with three darts.

(d.i) Find the probability that Arianne scores at least 5 points in the
competition. [3]

(d.ii) Find the probability that Arianne scores at least 5 points and
less than 8 points. [2]

(d.iii) Given that Arianne scores at least 5 points, find the probability
that Arianne scores less than 8 points. [2]

4. [Maximum mark: 14] 21M.2.SL.TZ2.4

It is known that the weights of male Persian cats are normally distributed with
mean 6. 1 kg and variance 0. 52 kg .
2

(a) Sketch a diagram showing the above information. [2]

(b) Find the proportion of male Persian cats weighing between

5. 5 kg and 6. 5 kg. [2]

A group of 80 male Persian cats are drawn from this population.

(c) Determine the expected number of cats in this group that have
a weight of less than 5. 3 kg. [3]

(d) It is found that 12 of the cats weigh more than x kg. Estimate
the value of x. [3]

(e) Ten of the cats are chosen at random. Find the probability that
exactly one of them weighs over 6. 25 kg. [4]
5. [Maximum mark: 17] 20N.2.SL.TZ0.T_6
Emlyn plays many games of basketball for his school team. The number of
minutes he plays in each game follows a normal distribution with mean m
minutes.

In any game there is a 30 % chance he will play less than 13. 6 minutes.

(a) Sketch a diagram to represent this information. [2]

In any game there is a 70 % chance he will play less than 17. 8 minutes.

(b) Show that m = 15. 7. [2]

The standard deviation of the number of minutes Emlyn plays in any game is 4.

(c.i) Find the probability that Emlyn plays between 13 minutes

and 18 minutes in a game. [2]

(c.ii) Find the probability that Emlyn plays more than 20 minutes

in a game. [2]

There is a 60 % chance Emlyn plays less than x minutes in a game.

(d) Find the value of x. [2]

Emlyn will play in two basketball games today.

(e) Find the probability he plays between 13 minutes and

18 minutes in one game and more than 20 minutes in

the other game. [3]

Emlyn and his teammate Johan each practise shooting the basketball multiple
times from a point X . A record of their performance over the weekend is shown
in the table below.
On Monday, Emlyn and Johan will practise and each will shoot 200 times from
point X .
(f ) Find the expected number of successful shots Emlyn will make
on Monday, based on the results from Saturday and Sunday. [2]

(g) Emlyn claims the results from Saturday and Sunday show that
his expected number of successful shots will be more than
Johan’s.

Determine if Emlyn’s claim is correct. Justify your reasoning. [2]

6. [Maximum mark: 13] 19M.1.SL.TZ1.S_9
A random variable Z is normally distributed with mean 0 and standard deviation
1. It is known that P(z < −1.6) = a and P(z > 2.4) = b. This is shown in the
following diagram.

(a) Find P(−1.6 < z < 2.4). Write your answer in terms of a and b. [2]

(b) Given that z > −1.6, find the probability that z < 2.4 . Write your
answer in terms of a and b. [4]

A second random variable X is normally distributed with mean m and standard

deviation s.

It is known that P(x < 1) = a.

(c) Write down the standardized value for x = 1. [1]

(d) It is also known that P(x > 2) = b.

Find s. [6]

© International Baccalaureate Organization, 2024