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Continuous Random Variable and Normal Distribution
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1. The distribution of the population height in a certain area is normally distributed, with
mean of 150 cm, and standard deviation of 12 cm.
a. Find the probability that the random people you met on the road, have height
more than 162 cm.
b. The person you met have height between 138 cm to 174 cm
c. The probability for you to find a random person that has height more than h cm is
0.9769
Find the value of h.
2. Given a function of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥(𝑥 − 4), 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 4 is a continuous probability density
function.
a. Find the value of a
b. Sketch the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
c. For this distribution find the:
I. mean
II. median
III. Mode
IV. Variance
3. The probability density function for the random variable Y is 𝑓(𝑦) = 5 − 12𝑦, 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 𝑘
a. Under what condition can Y be a continuous random variable?
b. Without using calculus, find the value of k.
1
2
1
c. Notice that ∫(5 − 12𝑦) 𝑑𝑦 = 1. Explain why 𝑘 ≠ 2
despite this result.
0
d. Find the mean and median value of Y.
4. A continuous random variable X has the probability density function
𝑓(𝑥) = 6𝑐𝑜𝑠3𝑥, 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑎. Find;
a. The value of a
b. The mean
c. The 20th percentile
d. The standard deviation of X
5. The time taken X, in hours, to perform a particular taks has the probability density
function.
a. Sketch the graph of this function.
b. Show that 𝑓(𝑥) is a well defined probability density function.
c. Find the mean, median and mode of X
d. Find the variance and standard deviation of X
e. Find 𝑃(0. 3 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 0. 7) and interpret your answer.
6. The chest measurements of 18 year old male footballers are normally distributed with a
mean of 95 cm and a standard deviation of 8 cm.
a. Find the percentage of footballers with chest measurements between:
I. 87 cm and 103 cm
II. 103 cm and 111 cm
b. Find the probability that the chest measurement of a randomly chosen footballer
is between 87 cm and 111 cm.
c. Find the value of k such that approximately 16% of chest measurements are
below k cm.
7. Two hundred lifesavers competed in a swimming race. The mean time taken was 10
minutes 30 seconds, and the standard deviation was 15 seconds. Estimate the number
of competitors who:
a. Took longer than 11 minutes
b. Took less than 10 minutes 15 seconds
c. Complete the race in a time between 10 minutes 15 seconds and 10 minutes 45
seconds.
8. The weight of Jason’s oranges are normally distributed. 84% of the crop weighed more
than 152 grams and 16% weighed more than 200 grams.
a. Find the µ and σ for the crop.
b. What is the percentage of the oranges that weigh between 152 grams and 224
grams?
9. A bottle filling machine fills an average of 2000 bottles a day with a standard deviation of
2000. Assuming that production is normally distributed and the year comprises 260
working days, calculate the approximate number of working days on which:
a. Under 1800 bottles are filled.
b. Over 16000 bottles are filled.
c. Between 18000 and 24000 bottles (inclusive) are filled.
10. A machine produces metal bolts. The lengths of these bolts have normal distribution with
mean 19.8 cm and standard distribution 0.3 cm. If a bolt is selected at random from the
machine, find the probability that it will have length between 19.7 cm and 20 cm.
11. People found to have high blood pressure are started on a course of table and have their
blood pressure checked at the end of 4 weeks. The drop in blood pressure over the
period is normally distributed with mean 5.9 units and standard deviation 1.9 units.
a. Find the proportion of people who show a drop of more than 4 units.
b. Eight people from a large population taking the tablet course are selected at
random. Find the probability that more than five of them will show a drop in blood
pressure of more than 4 units.
12. The table shows Emma’s midyear exam results. The exam results for each subject are
normally distributed with the mean µ and standard deviation σ shown in the table below.
a. Find the z-score for each of Emma’s subjects.
b. Arrange Emma’s subjects from the best to worse in terms of z-score.
13. Suppose the variable X is normally distributed with mean µ = 58. 3 and standard
deviation σ = 8. 96.
a. Let the z-score of 𝑥 = 50. 6 be 𝑧1 and the z-score of 𝑥 = 68. 9 be 𝑧2.
b. Calculate the 𝑧1 and 𝑧2
c. Find 𝑃(𝑧1≤ 𝑍 ≤ 𝑧2)
d. Find 𝑃(50. 6 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 68. 9)
14. If Z is the standard normal distribution, find k such that 𝑃(𝑍 > 𝑘) = 0. 73 and interpret
your results.
15. A university professor determines that no more than 80% of this year’s History
candidates should pass the final examination. The examination results were
approximately normally distributed with mean 62 and standard deviation 13. Find the
lowest score necessary to pass the examination.
16. An adult scallop population is known to be normally distributed with a standard deviation
of 5.9 g. If 15% of scallops weigh less than 58.2 g, find the mean weight of the
population.
