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Statistics Z Score

The document discusses using z-scores to compare values to the mean in a normal distribution. It provides 5 examples calculating z-scores to compare exam scores, newborn weights, giraffe heights, shoe sizes, and blood pressure to population means and standard deviations. It explains that z-scores indicate how many standard deviations a value is from the mean, and can be used to determine the percentage of values in the distribution that are lower. The document also includes a worksheet with 4 practice problems calculating and interpreting z-scores.

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20 views2 pages

Statistics Z Score

The document discusses using z-scores to compare values to the mean in a normal distribution. It provides 5 examples calculating z-scores to compare exam scores, newborn weights, giraffe heights, shoe sizes, and blood pressure to population means and standard deviations. It explains that z-scores indicate how many standard deviations a value is from the mean, and can be used to determine the percentage of values in the distribution that are lower. The document also includes a worksheet with 4 practice problems calculating and interpreting z-scores.

Uploaded by

jaycee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Example 1: Exam Scores

Z-scores are often used in academic settings to analyze how well a student’s score compares to the
mean score on a given exam.

For example, suppose the scores on a certain college entrance exam are roughly normally distributed
with a mean of 82 and a standard deviation of 5.

If a certain student received a 90 on the exam, we would calculate their z-score to be:

 z = (x – μ) / σ
 z = (90 – 82) / 5
 z = 1.6

This means that this student received a score that was 1.6 standard deviations above the mean.

We could use the Area To The Left of Z-Score Calculator to find that a z-score of 1.6 represents a
value that is greater than 94.52% of all exam scores.

Example 2: Newborn Weights


Z-scores are often used in a medical setting to analyze how a certain newborn’s weight compares to
the mean weight of all babies.

If a certain newborn weights 7.7 pounds, we would calculate their z-score to be:

 z = (x – μ) / σ
 z = (7.7 – 7.5) / 0.5
 z = 0.4

This means that this baby weighs 0.4 standard deviations above the mean.

We could use the Area To The Left of Z-Score Calculator to find that a z-score of 0.4 represents a
weight that is greater than 65.54% of all baby weights.

Example 3: Giraffe Heights


Z-scores are often used in a biology to assess how the height of a certain animal compares to the
mean population height of that particular animal.

For example, suppose the heights of a certain species of giraffe is normally distributed with a mean of
16 feet and a standard deviation of 2 feet.

If a certain giraffe from this species is 15 feet tall, we would calculate their z-score to be:

 z = (x – μ) / σ
 z = (15 – 16) / 2
 z = -0.5

This means that this giraffe has a height that is 0.5 standard deviations below the mean.

We could use the Area To The Left of Z-Score Calculator to find that a z-score of -0.5 represents a
height that is greater than just 30.85% of all giraffes.

Example 4: Shoe Size


Z-scores can be used to determine how a certain shoe size compares to the mean population size.

For example, it’s known that shoe sizes for males in the U.S. is roughly normally distributed with a
mean of size 10 and a standard deviation of 1.
If a certain man has a shoe size of 10, we would calculate their z-score to be:

 z = (x – μ) / σ
 z = (10 – 10) / 1
 z =0

This means that this man has a shoe size that is 0 standard deviations away from the mean.

We could use the Area To The Left of Z-Score Calculator to find that a z-score of 0 represents a shoe
size that is greater than exactly 50% of all males.

Example 5: Blood Pressure


Z-scores are often used in medical settings to assess how an individual’s blood pressure compares to
the mean population blood pressure.

For example, the distribution of diastolic blood pressure for men is normally distributed with a mean of
about 80 and a standard deviation of 20.

If a certain man has a diastolic blood pressure of 100, we would calculate their z-score to be:

 z = (x – μ) / σ
 z = (100 – 80) / 20
 z=1

This means that this man has a diastolic blood pressure that is 1 standard deviation above the mean.

We could use the Area To The Left of Z-Score Calculator to find that a z-score of 1 represents a
blood pressure size that is greater than 84.13% of all males.

Worksheet

Compute for the z-score of the following and interpret the result.

1. The monthly expenditures of a large group of households are normally distributed with a mean of
Php48,700 and a standard deviation of Php10,400. What is the z-value of monthly expenditures of
Php59,400 and Php38,300?

2. A normal curve has a mean of 650 and a standard deviation of 40. An analyst is interested in value
of 575 and wants to find its equivalent z-score.

3. A time study reports indicates that can assembly line task should be finished in an average of 5.64
minutes, with a standard deviation of 0.97 minute. One particular item had a z-score of 1.53. what
was the completion time of this item?

4. The salary of junior executives in a large corporation in Ortigas area is normally distributed with a
standard deviation of Php15600.Cutback is pending, at which time those who earn less than
Php85000, will be discharged. If such a cut represents a z-score of -1.28 of the junior executives,
what is the mean salary of the group of junior executives?

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