1 The distribution of the heights of some plants is normal and has a mean of 40 cm and a standard deviation of 2 cm.

Find the probability that a randomly selected plant is :

μ = 40 cm ; σ = 2 cm

𝐱−𝛍 42 − 40
(i) under 42 cm  P(x < 42) = z = 𝛔 = 2 = 1
Φ(z) when (z < 1) = 0.8413 ≈ 0.841

(ii) over 42 cm  1 – Φ(z) when (z > 1) = 1 – 0.8413 = 0.1587 ≈ 0.159

𝐱−𝛍 40 − 40
(iii) over 40 cm  P(x > 40) = z = 𝛔 = 2 = 0
1 – Φ(z) when (z > 0) = 1 – 0.5000 = 0.500

(iv) between 40 and 42 cm.  Φ(z when 42) – Φ(z when 40) = 0.8413 – 0.5000 = 0.3413 ≈ 0.341

2 The distribution of the masses of some baby parrots is normal and has a mean of 60 g and a standard deviation of 5
g. Find the probability that a randomly selected bird is :
μ = 60 g ; σ = 5 g

𝐱−𝛍 63 − 60
(i) under 63 g  P(x < 63) = z = 𝛔 = 5 = 0.6
Φ(z) when (z < 0.6) = 0.7257 ≈ 0.726
 (ii) over 63 g  1 – Φ(z) when (z > 0.6) = 1 – 0.7257 = 0.2743 ≈ 0.274

𝐱−𝛍 68 − 60
(iii) over 68 g  P(x > 68) = z = 𝛔 = 5 = 1.6
1 – Φ(z) when (z > 1.6) = 1 – 0.9452 = 0.0548

(iv) between 63 and 68 g.  Φ(z when 68) – Φ(z when 63) = 0.9452 – 0.7257 = 0.2195 ≈ 0.220
3 The distribution of the mass of sweets in a bag is normal and has a mean of 100 g and a standard deviation 2 g. Find
the probability that a randomly selected bag is :
μ = 100 g ; σ = 2 g

𝐱−𝛍 98 − 100
(i) under 98 g  P(x < 98) = z = 𝛔 = 2 = – 1
1 – Φ(z) when (z < – 1) = 1 – 0.8413 = 0.1587 ≈ 0.159

(ii) over 98 g  Φ(z) when (z > – 1) = 0.8413 ≈ 0.841

𝐱−𝛍 102 − 100

(iii) under 102 g  P(x < 98) = z = 𝛔 = 2
=1
Φ(z) when (z < 1) = 0.8413 ≈ 0.841

(iv) between 98 and 102 g.  Φ(z when 102) – Φ(z when 98) = 0.8413 – 0.1587 = 0.6826 ≈ 0.683

4 The distribution of the heights of 18-year-old girls may be modelled by the normal distribution with mean 162.5 cm
and standard deviation 6 cm. Find the probability that the height of a randomly selected 18-year-old girl is :
μ = 162.5 cm ; σ = 6 cm

𝐱−𝛍 168 .5 – 162 .5

(i) under 168.5 cm  P(x < 168.5) = z = 𝛔 = 6
=1
Φ(z) when (z < 1) = 0.8413 ≈ 0.841

𝐱−𝛍 174 .5 – 162 .5

(ii) over 174.5 cm  P(x > 174.5) = z = 𝛔 = 6
=2
1 – Φ(z) when (z > 2) = 1 – 0.9772 = 0.0228

(iii) between 168.5 and 174.5 cm.  Φ(z when 174.5) – Φ(z when 168.5) = 0.9772 – 0.8413 = 0.1359 ≈ 0.136

5 A pet shop has a tank of goldfish for sale. All the fish in the tank were hatched at the same time and their weights
may be taken to be normally distributed with mean 100 g and standard deviation 10 g. Melanie is buying a goldfish
and is invited to catch the one she wants in a small net. In fact the fish are much too quick for her to be able to
catch any particular fish, and the one which she eventually nets is selected at random. Find the probability that its
weight is :
μ = 100 g ; σ = 10 g

𝐱−𝛍 115 – 100

(i) over 115 g  P(x > 115) = z = 𝛔 = 10 = 1.5
1 – Φ(z) when (z > 1.5) = 1 – 0.9332 = 0.0668

𝐱−𝛍 105 – 100

(ii) under 105 g  P(x < 105) = z = 𝛔 = 10 = 0.5
Φ(z) when (z < 0.5) = 0.6915 ≈ 0.692

(iii) between 105 and 115 g.  Φ(z when 115) – Φ(z when 105) = 0.9332 – 0.6915 = 0.2417 ≈ 0.242

6 When he makes instant coffee, Tony puts a spoonful of powder into a mug. The weight of coffee in grams on the
spoon may be modelled by the normal distribution with mean 5g and standard deviation 1g. If he uses more than
6.5g Julia complains that it is too strong and if he uses less than 4g she tells him it is too weak. Find the probability
that he makes the coffee :
μ=5g;σ=1g

𝐱−𝛍 6.5 – 5
(i) too strong (x > 6.5 g)  P(x > 6.5) = z = 𝛔
= 1
= 1.5
 1 – Φ(z) when (z > 1.5) = 1 – 0.9332 = 0.0668 ≈ 0.167

𝐱−𝛍 4–5
(ii) too weak (x < 4 g)  P(x < 105) = z = 𝛔 = 1 = – 1
1 – Φ(z) when (z < – 1) = 1 – 0.8413 = 0.1587 ≈ 0.159

(iii) alright.  Φ(z when 1.5) – Φ(z when – 1) = 0.9332 – 0.1587 = 0.7745 ≈ 0.775
7 A biologist finds a nesting colony of a previously unknown sea bird on a remote island. She is able to take
measurements on 100 of the eggs before replacing them in their nests. She records their weights, wg, in this
frequency table.

(i) Find the mean and standard deviation of these data.

Weight , w 25 < w <= 27 27 < w <= 29 29 < w <= 31 31 < w <= 33 33 < w <= 35 33 < w <= 37 Total
Freq 2 13 35 33 17 0 100
x 26 28 30 32 34 36
f.x 52 364 1050 1056 578 0 3100
f . x^2 1352 10192 31500 33792 19652 0 96488
Mean , x̄ = ∑f.x / ∑f 31
SD = √ [f . x^2/n - x̄^2] 1,970

(ii) Assuming the weights of the eggs for this type of bird are normally distributed and that their mean and
standard deviation are the same as those of this sample, find how many eggs you would expect to be in each
of these categories.

25 < w <= 27 27 < w <= 29 29 < w <= 31 31 < w <= 33 33 < w <= 35 33 < w <= 37
2 or 3 13 34 or 35 34 or 35 13 2 or 3

(iii) Do you think the assumption that the weights of the eggs are normally distributed is reasonable?
More data would need to be collected to say reliably that the weights are normally distributed.

8 A machine is set to produce nails of length 10 cm, with standard deviation 0.05 cm. The lengths of the nails are
normally distributed.
μ = 10 cm ; σ = 0.05 cm

(i) Find the percentage of nails produced between 9.95 cm and 10.08 cm in length.
= Φ(z when 9.95 cm) < z < Φ(z when 10.08 cm)
𝐱−𝛍 9.95 – 10 𝐱−𝛍 10.08 – 10
= Φ*z = 𝛔
= 0.05
] < z < Φ*z = 𝛔
= 0.05
]

= Φ*z = – 1] < z < Φ*z = 1.6]

= Φ*z = 1.6] – Φ*z = – 1]
= 0.9452 – (1 – 0.8413)
= 0.9452 – 0.1587
= 0.7865 x 100 %
= 78.7 %

The machine’s setting is moved by a careless apprentice with the consequence that 16% of the nails are under 5.2
cm in length and 20% are over 5.3 cm.
(ii) Find the new mean and standard deviation.
 16% = 0.16  1 – 0.16 = 0.84 ≈ 0.8399 (z = – 0.994) when x = 5.2 cm
20% = 0.20  1 – 0.20 = 0.80 = 0.8000 (z = 0.842) when x = 5.3 cm
𝐱−𝛍 5.2 – μ
𝛔
= σ
= – 0.994  5.2 – μ = – 0.994 σ
𝐱−𝛍 5.3 – μ
𝛔
= σ
= 0.842  5.3 – μ = 0.842 σ --

– 0.1 = – 1.836 σ
Standard Deviasi (σ) = 0.1/1.836 = 0.0545 cm
Mean (μ) = 5.3 – 0.842 x 0.0545 = 5.25 cm

9 The random variable X has the distribution N(m, s2). It is given that P(X < 54.1) = 0.5 and P(X > 50.9) = 0.8665. Find
the values of m and s.
𝐱−𝛍 54.1 – m
P(X < 54.1) = 𝛔
= s
=0  54.1 – m = 0 s

Mean (μ) = 54.1

𝐱−𝛍 50.9 – m
P(X > 50.9) = = = – 1.11  50.9 – m = – 1.11 s
𝛔 s

Standard Deviasi (σ) = (50.9 – 54.1)/( – 1.11) = 2.88

10 The petrol consumption of a certain type of car has a normal distribution with mean 24 kilometres per litre and
standard deviation 4.7 kilometres per litre. Find the probability that the petrol consumption of a randomly chosen
car of this type is between 21.6 kilometres per litre and 28.7 kilometres per litre.
μ = 24 km/L ; σ = 4.7 km/L

= Φ(z when 21.6 km/L) – Φ(z when 28.7 km/L)

𝐱−𝛍 21.6 – 24 𝐱−𝛍 28.7 – 24
= Φ*z = = ] < z < Φ*z = = ]
𝛔 4.7 𝛔 4.7

= Φ*z = – 0.511] < z < Φ*z = 1]

= Φ*z = 1] – Φ*z = – 0.511]
= 0.8413 – (1 – 0.6953)
= 0.8413 – 0.3047
= 0.5366 ≈ 0.537

11 Lengths of a certain type of white radish are normally distributed with mean m cm and standard deviation s cm. 4%
of these radishes are longer than 12 cm and 32% are longer than 9 cm. Find m and s.
μ = m cm ; σ = s cm

4% = 0.04  1 – 0.04 = 0.96 ≈ 0.9600 (z = 1.751) when x = 12 cm

32% = 0.32  1 – 0.32 = 0.68 = 0.6801 (z = 0.469) when x = 9 cm
𝐱−𝛍 12 – m
𝛔
= s
= 1.751  12 – m = 1.751 s
𝐱−𝛍 9–m
𝛔
= s
= 0.469  9 – m = 0.469 s --

3 = 1.282 s
Standard Deviasi (σ) = 3/1.282 = 2.34 cm
Mean (μ) = 12 – 1.751 x 2.34 = 7.91 cm

12 A farmer finds that the weights of sheep on his farm have a normal distribution with mean 66.4kg and standard
deviation 5.6kg.
 μ = 66.4 kg ; σ = 5.6 kg

(i) 250 sheep are chosen at random. Estimate the number of sheep which have a weight of between 70 kg and
72.5 kg.

= Φ(z when 70 kg) < z < Φ(z when 72.5 kg)

𝐱−𝛍 70 – 66.4 𝐱−𝛍 72.5 – 66.4
= Φ*z = 𝛔
= 5.6
] < z < Φ*z = 𝛔
= 5.6
]

= Φ*z = 1.089] – Φ*z = 0.643]

= 0.8620 – 0. 7399
= 0.1221 x 250 sheep = 30.525 ≈ 30 ~ 31 sheep
(ii) The proportion of sheep weighing less than 59.2 kg is equal to the proportion weighing more than y kg. Find
the value of y.
𝐱−𝛍 59.2 – 66.4 y – 66.4
𝛔
=– 5.6
= 5.6

y = 73.6 Kg

Another farmer finds that the weights of sheep on his farm have a normal distribution with mean m kg and
standard deviation 4.92kg. 25% of these sheep weigh more than 67.5kg.
(iii) Find the value of m.
25% = 0.25  1 – 0.25 = 0.75 = 0.7499 (z = 0.674) when x = 67.5 kg
𝐱−𝛍 67.5 – m
𝛔
= 4.92
= 0.674  67.5 – m = 3.31608  m = 64.18392 ≈ 64.2 kg

13 It is given that X ∼ N(30, 49), Y ∼ N(30, 16) and Z ∼ N(50, 16). On a single diagram, with the horizontal axis going
from 0 to 70, sketch three curves to represent the distributions of X, Y and Z.

X mean at 30, roughly from 10 to 50

Y same mean as X but higher and thinner
Z same shape as Y but mean at 50 ft wrong Y

14 Lengths of a certain type of carrot have a normal distribution with mean 14.2cm and standard deviation 3.6cm.
μ = 14.2 cm ; σ = 3.6 cm

(i) 8% of carrots are shorter than c cm. Find the value of c.

8% = 0.08  1 – 0.08 = 0.92 = 0.9200 (z = – 1.406) when x = c cm

𝐱−𝛍 c – 14.2
𝛔
= 3.6
= – 1.406  c – 14.2 = – 5.0616  c = 9.1384 ≈ 9.14 cm

(ii) Rebekah picks 7 carrots at random. Find the probability that at least 2 of them have lengths between 15 cm
and 16 cm.

= Φ(z when 15 cm) < z < Φ(z when 16 cm)

𝐱−𝛍 15 – 14.2 𝐱−𝛍 16 – 14.2
= Φ*z = = ] < z < Φ*z = = ]
𝛔 3.6 𝛔 3.6

= Φ*z = 0.222] < z < Φ*z = 0.500]

 = Φ*z = 0.500] – Φ*z = 0.222]
= 0.6915 – 0.5879
= 0.1036
P(at least 2) = 1 – P(0) – P(1)
= 1 – (1 – 0.1036)7 – (1 – 0.1036)6(0.1036)1
= 1 – 0.8413
= 0.1587 ≈ 0.159

15 Tyre pressures on a certain type of car independently follow a normal distribution with mean 1.9 bars and standard
deviation 0.15 bars.
μ = 1.9 bars ; σ = 0.15 bars

(i) Find the probability that all four tyres on a car of this type have pressures between 1.82 bars and 1.92 bars.

= Φ(z when 1.82 bars) < z < Φ(z when 1.92 bars)
𝐱−𝛍 1.82 – 1.9 𝐱−𝛍 1.92 – 1.9
= Φ*z = 𝛔
= 0.15
] < z < Φ*z = 𝛔
= 0.15
]

= Φ*z = – 0.533] < z < Φ*z = 0.133]

= Φ*z = 0.133] – Φ*z = – 0.533]
= 0.5529 – (1 – 0.7029)
= 0.5529 – 0.2971
= 0.2558 ≈ 0.256
P(All 4) = (0.256)4 = 0.00429

(ii) Safety regulations state that the pressures must be between 1.9 − b bars and 1.9 + b bars. It is known that 80%
of tyres are within these safety limits.
Find the safety limits.

80%  (0.80 + 1)/2 = 0.90 = 0.9001 (z = ± 1.282)

= Φ(z when 1.9 – b bars) < z < Φ(z when 1.9 + b bars)
𝐱−𝛍 1.9 − b – 1.9 𝐱−𝛍 1.9 + b – 1.9
= Φ*z = 𝛔
= 0.15
] < z < Φ*z = 𝛔
= 0.15
]
b
Φ*z = 0.15 ] = + 1.282  b = 0.1923 , so = 1.9 – 0.1923 = 1.7077 ≈ 1.71
b
Φ*z = 0.15 ] = – 1.282  b = – 0.1923 , so = 1.9 – (– 0.1923) = 2.0923 ≈ 2.09

Safety limit between 1.71 and 2.09

16 The lengths of fish of a certain type have a normal distribution with mean 38 cm. It is found that 5% of the fish are
longer than 50 cm.
μ = 38 cm ; σ = σ cm

(i) Find the standard deviation.

5% = 0.05  1 – 0.05 = 0.95 = 0.9500 (z = 1.645) when x = 50 cm

𝐱−𝛍 50 – 38
𝛔
= 𝛔
= 1.645  12 = 1.645 σ  σ = 12/1.645 = 7.2948 ≈ 7.29 cm

(ii) When fish are chosen for sale, those shorter than 30 cm are rejected. Find the proportion of fish rejected.
 𝐱−𝛍 30 − 38
= Φ*z = = ]
𝛔 7.29

= Φ*z = – 1.09739 ≈ – 1.097]

= 1 – 0.8637
= 0.1363 ≈ 0.136
(iii) 9 fish are chosen at random. Find the probability that at least one of them is longer than 50 cm.
1 – P(x < 50) = 1 – (0.95)9 = 0.36975057 ≈ 0.370

17 (a) The random variable X is normally distributed. The mean is twice the standard deviation. It is given that P(x >
5.2) = 0.9. Find the standard deviation.
μ = 2 σ cm ; σ = σ cm

P(x > 5.2) = 0.9  z (x > 5.2) = – 1.282

𝟓.𝟐 − 𝟐𝛔
= Φ*z = 𝛔 = – 1.282]

5.2 – 2 σ = – 1.282 σ
5.2 = 0.718 σ
σ = 5.2/0.718 = 7.242 ≈ 7.24

(b) A normal distribution has mean µ and standard deviation σ. If 800 observations are taken from this
distribution, how many would you expect to be between µ − σ and µ + σ ?

= Φ(z when µ − σ) < z < Φ(z when µ + σ)

𝐱−𝛍 µ−σ –µ 𝐱−𝛍 µ+ σ – µ
= Φ*z = 𝛔
= σ
] < z < Φ*z = 𝛔
= σ
]

= Φ*z = – 1] < z < Φ*z = 1]

= Φ*z = 1] – Φ*z = – 1]
= 0.8413 – (1 – 0.8413)
= 0.8413 – 0.1587
= 0.6826 x 800 observation = 546.08 ≈ 546 observation

18 In a certain country the time taken for a common infection to clear up is normally distributed with mean µ days
and standard deviation 2.6 days. 25% of these infections clear up in less than 7 days.

(i) Find the value of µ. In another country the standard deviation of the time taken for the infection to clear up is
the same as in part (i) but the mean is 6.5 days. The time taken is normally distributed.
μ = μ days ; σ = 2.6 days
25% = 0.25  1 – 0.25 = 0.75 = 0.7499 (z = – 0.647) when x < 7 days
x −μ 7–μ
σ
= 2.6
= 0.647  7 – μ = – 0.647 x 2.6  μ = 8.75

(ii) Find the probability that, in a randomly chosen case from this country, the infection takes longer than 6.2 days
to clear up.
x −μ 6.2 – 6.5
P(x > 6.2) = P(z > = ) = P( z > – 0.1154) = 0.5458 ≈ 0.546
σ 2.6

19. The random variable X has a normal distribution with mean 4.5. It is given that P(X > 5.5) = 0.0465 (see diagram).
μ = 4.5 ; σ = σ

(i) Find the standard deviation of X.

P(X > 5.5) = 0.0465  P(z) = 1 – 0.0465 = 0.9535
x−μ 5.5 – 4.5
P(z > σ
= σ
) = P(z > ± 1.68)
 σ = 1/1.68 = 0.5952 ≈ 0.595

(ii) Find the probability that a random observation of X lies between 3.8 and 4.8.

= Φ(z when 3.8) < z < Φ(z when 4.8)

𝐱−𝛍 3.8 – 4.5 𝐱−𝛍 4.8 – 4.5
= Φ*z = 𝛔
= 0.595
] < z < Φ*z = 𝛔
= 0.595
]

= Φ*z = – 1.176] < z < Φ*z = 0.504]

= Φ*z = 0.504] – Φ*z = – 1.176]
= 0.6929 – (1 – 0.8802)
= 0.6929 – 0.1198
= 0.5731 ≈ 0.573

20 (i) The daily minimum temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) in January in Ottawa is a random variable with
distribution N(−15.1, 62.0). Find the probability that a randomly chosen day in January in Ottawa has a
minimum temperature above 0 °C. =
μ = −15.1 ; σ = 62.0

𝐱−𝛍 0 + 15.1
P(x > 0) = Φ*z = = ] = 1 – Φ*z = 1.9177] = 1 – 0.9724 = 0.0276
𝛔 62

(ii) In another city the daily minimum temperature in °C in January is a random variable with distribution N(µ,
40.0). In this city the probability that a randomly chosen day in January has a minimum temperature above 0
°C is 0.8888. Find the value of µ. = 7.720C
μ = μ ; σ = 40
𝐱−𝛍 0 −μ
P(x > 0) = Φ*z = 𝛔
= 40
] = Φ*z = 0.8888] = – 1.22
0−μ
= – 1.22
40

μ = 7.720C
21 The times for a certain car journey have a normal distribution with mean 100 minutes and standard deviation 7
minutes. Journey times are classified as follows: ‘short’ (the shortest 33% of times) ‘long’ (the longest 33% of times)
‘standard’ (the remaining 34% of times).

(i) Find the probability that a randomly chosen car journey takes between 85 and 100 minutes. = 0.484
μ = 100 mins ; σ = 7

= Φ(z when 85) < z < Φ(z when 100)

𝐱−𝛍 85 – 100 𝐱−𝛍 100 – 100
= Φ*z = = ] < z < Φ*z = = ]
𝛔 7 𝛔 7

= Φ*z = – 2.143] < z < Φ*z = 0.000]

= Φ*z = 0.000] – Φ*z = – 2.143]
= 0.5000 – (1 – 0.9839)
= 0.5000 – 0.0162
= 0.4838 ≈ 0.484
(ii) Find the least and greatest times for ‘standard’ journeys. = 96.9 mins – 103.1 mins

33% = 0.33  1 – 0.33 = 0.67 = 0.6700 (z = ± 0.44) when x < least or greatest
x −μ Least – 100
= = – 0.44  Least – 100 = – 0.44 x 7  Least = 96.92 mins ≈ 96.2 mins
σ 7

x −μ Greatest – 100
= = 0.44  Greatest – 100 = 0.44 x 7  Greates = 103.08 mins ≈ 103.1 mins
σ 7