OPRE 506 Homework #1

1. Given a standardized normal distribution (with a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1) determine
the following probabilities:

a. P( Z > 1.08 )

Probability for X >

X Value 1.08
Z Value 1.08
P(X>1.08) 0.1401

b. P( Z < -0.21 )

Probability for X <=

X Value -0.21
Z Value -0.21
P(X<=-0.21) 0.4168

c. P( -1.96 < Z < -0.21 )

P(-1.96<=X<=-0.21) 0.3918

d. What is the value of Z if only 15.87 percent of all possible Z values are larger

Find X and Z Given a Cum. Pctage.

84.13
Cumulative Percentage %
Z Value 1.00
X Value 1.00

2. A set of final examination grades in an introductory statistics course is normally distributed, with a
mean of 73 and a standard deviation of 8.

a. What is the probability that a student scored below 91 on this exam?

 Probability for X <=
X Value 91
Z Value 2.25
P(X<=91) 0.9878

b. What is the probability that a student scored between 65 and 89?

P(65<=X<=89) 0.8186

c. The probability is five percent that a student taking the test scores higher than what grade?

Find X and Z Given a Cum. Pctage.

95.00
Cumulative Percentage %
Z Value 1.64
X Value 86.16

d. If the professor grades on a curve (i.e., gives A’s to the top ten percent of the class, regardless of the
score), are you better off with a grade of 81 on this exam or a grade of 68 on a different exam, where
the mean is 62 and the standard deviation is 3? Show your answer statistically and explain.

Probability for X >

X Value 81
Z Value 1
P(X>81) 0.1587

Probability for X >

X Value 68
Z Value 2
P(X>68) 0.0228

So you are better with grade 68 on different exam