EXERCISE: NORMAL DISTRIBUTION PRACTICE SET
Directions: Given that the random variable is normally distributed, find the probability for
each problem using the standard Z-table.
I. Let the random variable have a mean of 80 and a standard deviation of 6.
1. What is the probability that the value is less than 90?
2. What is the probability that the value is greater than 75?
3. What is the probability that the value is between 78 and 88?
4. What is the probability that the value is less than 65?
5. What is the probability that the value is between 74 and 82?
II. The lifespan of a certain battery brand is normally distributed with a mean of 500
hours and a standard deviation of 60 hours.
1. What is the probability that a battery lasts more than 530 hours?
2. What is the probability that a battery lasts less than 470 hours?
3. What is the probability that a battery lasts between 480 and 520 hours?
4. What percentage of batteries last more than 600 hours?
5. What percentage of batteries last between 450 and 570 hours?
III. A student’s test scores in math follow a normal distribution with a mean of 75
and a standard deviation of 8.
1. What is the probability that a student scores above 85?
2. What is the probability that a student scores below 70?
3. What is the probability that a student scores between 65 and 80?
4. What is the probability that a student scores less than 60?
5. What is the probability that a student scores between 70 and 90?
Answer KEY:
I. Mean = 80, Standard Deviation = 6
1. P(X < 90)
Z = (90 – 80) / 6 = 1.67
P = 0.5 + 0.4525 = 0.9525
2. P(X > 75)
Z = (75 – 80) / 6 = -0.83
P = 0.5 + 0.2967 = 0.7967 (since “greater than” and Z is negative)
3. P(78 < X < 88)
Z₁ = (78 – 80) / 6 = -0.33, area = 0.5 – 0.1293 = 0.3707
Z₂ = (88 – 80) / 6 = 1.33, area = 0.5 + 0.4082 = 0.9082
P = 0.9082 – 0.3707 = 0.5375
4. P(X < 65)
Z = (65 – 80) / 6 = -2.50
P = 0.5 – 0.4938 = 0.0062
5. P(74 < X < 82)
Z₁ = (74 – 80) / 6 = -1.00, area = 0.5 – 0.3413 = 0.1587
Z₂ = (82 – 80) / 6 = 0.33, area = 0.5 + 0.1293 = 0.6293
P = 0.6293 – 0.1587 = 0.4706
II. Mean = 500, Standard Deviation = 60
1. P(X > 530)
Z = (530 – 500) / 60 = 0.5
P = 1 – (0.5 + 0.1915) = 0.3085
2. P(X < 470)
Z = (470 – 500) / 60 = -0.5
P = 0.5 – 0.1915 = 0.3085
3. P(480 < X < 520)
Z₁ = (480 – 500) / 60 = -0.33, area = 0.5 – 0.1293 = 0.3707
Z₂ = (520 – 500) / 60 = 0.33, area = 0.5 + 0.1293 = 0.6293
P = 0.6293 – 0.3707 = 0.2586
4. P(X > 600)
Z = (600 – 500) / 60 = 1.67
P = 1 – (0.5 + 0.4525) = 0.0475
Answer in percent: 4.75%
5. P(450 < X < 570)
Z₁ = (450 – 500) / 60 = -0.83, area = 0.5 – 0.2967 = 0.2033
Z₂ = (570 – 500) / 60 = 1.17, area = 0.5 + 0.3790 = 0.8790
P = 0.8790 – 0.2033 = 0.6757
Answer in percent: 67.57%
III. Mean = 75, Standard Deviation = 8
1. P(X > 85)
Z = (85 – 75) / 8 = 1.25
P = 1 – (0.5 + 0.3944) = 0.1056
2. P(X < 70)
Z = (70 – 75) / 8 = -0.625
Closest value: 0.5 – 0.2659 = 0.2341
3. P(65 < X < 80)
Z₁ = (65 – 75) / 8 = -1.25, area = 0.5 – 0.3944 = 0.1056
Z₂ = (80 – 75) / 8 = 0.625, area = 0.5 + 0.2659 = 0.7659
P = 0.7659 – 0.1056 = 0.6603
4. P(X < 60)
Z = (60 – 75) / 8 = -1.875
Closest value: 0.5 – 0.4699 = 0.0301
5. P(70 < X < 90)
Z₁ = (70 – 75) / 8 = -0.625, area = 0.5 – 0.2659 = 0.2341
Z₂ = (90 – 75) / 8 = 1.875, area = 0.5 + 0.4699 = 0.9699
P = 0.9699 – 0.2341 = 0.7358
