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z-Scores Solutions

  • The standard normal distribution is always    centered at zero    on the x-axis with intervals that    increase or decrease by one    on each side of zero.
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  • Therefore:
    •    𝜇=0   
    •    𝜎=1   
  • This type of distribution is a    density curve    with an area    always equal to one square unit   , or in terms of a proportion,    100%   .
  • Because the mean is zero,    50% of the data is below the mean     (and 50% is above the mean).
  • Any normally distributed data set can be standardized using the    z-score formula   : z=Xμσ
  • A z-score is a measure of how many standard deviations, 𝜎,    a data point is from the population mean   , 𝜇.
  • When a data set is standardized, it can be    compared with any other standardized data set    using z-scores.
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  • Once the z-score is calculated, a standard normal table, or    z-table   , is used as a reference to find where the value    falls under the curve   .
  • The z-table determines the    exact area to the left    of a specific z-score.
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  • The area can be written as a    proportion or percentage    from the z-table.

  • The    top row    and    left column    correspond with the z-score.

  • When analyzing z-values using the z-table:

    • Ask yourself: What proportion of the data    is less than X   ?

    • Write answers using the math shorthand:    P(data<X)   .

You will need the z-table for this lesson.
The z-table is located in the Statistics and Probability Formula Sheet.

Example 1

Standardize the normal distribution.

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z=Xμσz=1001005.5=0z=83.51005.5=3

z=891005.5=2z=94.51005.5=1z=105.51005.5=1z=1111005.5=2z=116.51005.5=3

Example 2

A high school track coach calculated the post-season mile times to be μ=6.417, σ=0.333. What proportion of runners on the track team ran a mile in less than 6:30 minutes?

6:30=6.5 minutes

 z=Xμσ=6.56.4170.333=0.24920.25

P(runners<6:30)=0.5987

 

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Example 3

The area for a standard normal distribution is 0.0495 with a mean of 7.5 and a standard deviation of 1.5. Determine the raw data value. Explain.

z=1.651.51.65=X7.51.51.52.475=X7.5+7.5+7.5X=5.025

Approximately 4.95% of the data will be below the value 5.025.

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