8.

2 The Normal Probability Distribution

Properties of a Normal Distribution
Every normal distribution has a mean, and a standard deviation, .
The graph (bell-shaped curve is symmetrical about the mean.
The hori!ontal a"is is an asymptote.
The total area under the curve is #.
The $%-&'-&& (ule
)(! * area under the standard normal curve on the left side of a vertical line corresponding to !.
! *

x
E"ample # The ans+ers are, -#.-&. -#.-/. -#./%. #.01
2ind the value of a
# P(! 3 a * -.#14& 0 P(! 5 a * -.%'-%
1 P(a 3 ! 3 - * -./1-$ / P(- 3 ! 3 a * -.1&-4
E"ample 0 The ans+er is 6
7f 8 has a standard normal distribution +ith P(a < Z < b * -.#, +here -1 < a < b< 1, +hich of
the follo+ing statements must be true9
A. P(Z < a 5 -.# B. P(Z 5 a 5 -.# C. P(Z < b < -.# D. P(Z 5 a < -.#
E"ample 1 The ans+er is D
The shaded area in the diagram represents 01.&4: of the area under the curve. The value of !
#
is
A. --.&0
B. --.4#
C. --.$/
D. --.'0
-#.'/ !# - !
E"ample /
) manufacturer produces batteries +ith a
mean life of #'-- hours and a standard
deviation of #-- hours. Determine a &&:
confidence interval for the life of a battery. !
#
!
0
;olution, &&: confidence interval means the shaded area is &&:,
so the area left of !
#
is -.': and also the area right of !
0
is -.':.
!
#
* -0.'% and !
0
* 0.'%
6ecause ! *

x
, so x * ! < .
;ubstituting the ! +ith !
#
and !
0
, +e get x
min
* #0/0 h and x
ma"
* #4'% h.
;o the life of a battery of &&: confidence interval is bet+een #0/0 h and #4'%
h.
E"ample '
The +eight of a large shipment of coconuts is normally distributed +ith a standard deviation of
-.4#=g. the probability that a coconut +eight less than 0.4=g is #-.0:. The mean of the
shipment is>>>>>9
;olution, from the information----a coconut +eight less than 0.4=g is #-.0:,
+e get !
#
* -#.04. 6ecause !
#
*
4# . -
4 . 0
* -#.04, so * 1.$-
E"ample $ The ans+er is ?
The results of a district-+ide science test +ere normally distributed +ith a mean of %- and a
standard deviation of #$. Determine the percent of scores that +ould be e"pected to be bet+een
4- and &-.
A. 04: B. /-: C. /4: D. 41:
E"ample 4 The ans+er is 6
The results for a test are normally distributed. The mean score is $4 +ith a standard deviation of
&.
7f the top #-: of the students receive an @)A, +hat is the minimum mar= needed to receive an
@)A9
A. '' B. 4& C. %$ D. &-
E"ample % The ans+er is )
The mar= distributions of 6iology and ?hemistry students are given by the t+o normal curves
belo+.
?hemistry
* $1: * $&:
* #%: * ':
Bohn has the same !-score standing in 6iology and ?hemistry. 7f his mar= in 6iology is 4/:,
+hat is his mar= in ?hemistry9
A. 40: B. 41: C. 4/: D. 4':