Chapter 6: Random Variables and the Normal

Distribution

 6.1 Discrete Random Variables

 6.2 Binomial Probability Distribution

 6.3 Continuous Random Variables and the

Normal Probability Distribution

 6.4 Standard Normal Distribution

 6.5 Applications of the Normal Distribution

6.1 Discrete Random Variables
Objectives:
By the end of this section, I will be
able to…

1) Identify random variables.

2) Explain what a discrete probability
distribution is and construct probability
distribution tables and graphs.
3) Calculate the mean, variance, and standard
deviation of a discrete random variable.
Random Variables
 A variable whose values are determined by
chance

 Chance in the definition of a random variable

is crucial
Example 6.2 - Notation
for random variables
Suppose our experiment is to toss a single fair
die, and we are interested in the number
rolled. We define our random variable X to be
the outcome of a single die roll.
a. Why is the variable X a random variable?
b. What are the possible values that the
random variable X can take?
c. What is the notation used for rolling a 5?
d. Use random variable notation to express
the probability of rolling a 5.
Example 6.2 continued
Solution

a) We don’t know the value of X before we toss the

die, which introduces an element of chance into
the experiment

b) Possible values for X: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

c) When a 5 is rolled, then X equals the outcome 5,

or X = 5.

d) Probability of rolling a 5 for a fair die is 1/6, thus

P(X = 5) = 1/6.
Types of Random Variables

 Discrete random variable - either a finite

number of values or countable number of
values, where “countable” refers to the fact
that there might be infinitely many values,
but they result from a counting process

 Continuous random variable infinitely

many values, and those values can be
associated with measurements on a
continuous scale without gaps or
interruptions
 Example
Identify each as a discrete or continuous
random variable.
(a) Total amount in ounces of soft drinks
you consumed in the past year.
(b) The number of cans of soft drinks that
you consumed in the past year.
 Example
ANSWER:
(a) continuous
(b) discrete
 Example
Identify each as a discrete or continuous
random variable.
(a) The number of movies currently playing
in U.S. theaters.
(b) The running time of a randomly selected
movie
(c) The cost of making a randomly selected
movie.
 Example
ANSWER
(a) discrete
(b) continuous
(c) continuous
Discrete Probability Distributions

 Provides all the possible values that the

random variable can assume

 Together with the probability associated with

each value

 Can take the form of a table, graph, or

formula

 Describe populations, not samples

 Example
Table 6.2 in your textbook

The probability distribution table of

the number of heads observed when
tossing a fair coin twice
Probability Distribution of a
Discrete Random Variable

 The sum of the probabilities of all the

possible values of a discrete random variable
must equal 1.
 That is, ΣP(X) = 1.
 The probability of each value of X must be
between 0 and 1, inclusive.
 That is, 0 ≤ P(X ) ≤ 1.
 Example
Let the random variable x represent the
number of girls in a family of four
children. Construct a table describing
the probability distribution.
 Example
Determine the outcomes with a tree diagram:
 Example
 Total number of outcomes is 16
 Total number of ways to have 0 girls is 1
P(0 girls) 1 / 16 0.0625
 Total number of ways to have 1 girl is 4
P(1 girl) 4 / 16 0.2500
 Total number of ways to have 2 girls is 6
P(2 girls) 6 / 16 0.375
 Example

 Total number of ways to have 3 girls is 4

P(3 girls) 4 / 16 0.2500

 Total number of ways to have 4 girls is 1

P(4 girls) 1 / 16 0.0625
 Example
Distribution is:

x P(x)

0 0.0625
1 0.2500
2 0.3750
3 0.2500
4 0.0625
NOTE:

P(x) 1
Mean of a Discrete Random
Variable
 The mean μ of a discrete random variable
represents the mean result when the
experiment is repeated an indefinitely large
number of times

 Also called the expected value or

expectation of the random variable X.

 Denoted as E(X )

 Holds for discrete and continuous random

variables
Finding the Mean of a Discrete
Random Variable
 Multiply each possible value of X by its
probability.

 Add the resulting products.

X P X
Variability of a Discrete
Random Variable
Formulas for the Variance and Standard
Deviation of a Discrete Random Variable

Definition Formulas
2 2
X P X
2
X P X

Computational Formulas
2
X2 P X 2

X2 P X 2
Example

x P(x)
x P(x) x2 x 2 P( x)
0 0.0625 0 0 0
1 0.2500 0.25 1 0.2500
2 0.3750 0.75 4 1.5000
3 0.2500 0.75 9 2.2500
4 0.0625 0.25 16 1.0000

xP(x) 2.0
Example

x P(x)
x P(x) x2 x 2 P( x)
0 0.0625 0 0 0
1 0.2500 0.25 1 0.2500
2 0.3750 0.75 4 1.5000
3 0.2500 0.75 9 2.2500
4 0.0625 0.25 16 1.0000

2
x 2 P( x) 2
5.0000 4.0000 1.0000

1.0000 1.0
Discrete Probability Distribution
as a Graph
 Graphs show all the information contained in
probability distribution tables
 Identify patterns more quickly

FIGURE 6.1 Graph of probability distribution

for Kristin’s financial gain.
 Example
 Page 270
 Example
 Probability distribution (table)

x P(x)

0 0.25
1 0.35
2 0.25
3 0.15

 Omit graph
 Example
 Page 270
 Example
 ANSWER
X number of goals scored

(a) Probability X is fewer than 3

P( X 0 X 1 X 2)
P( X 0) P( X 1) P( X 2)
0.25 0.35 0.25
0.85
 Example
 ANSWER
(b) The most likely number of goals is the
expected value (or mean) of X
x P(x) x P(x)
0 0.25 0
1 0.35 0.35 xP(x) 1.3 1
2 0.25 0.50
3 0.15 0.45

She will most likely score one goal

 Example
 ANSWER
(c) Probability X is at least one
P( X 1 X 2 X 3)
P( X 1) P( X 2) P( X 3)
0.35 0.25 0.15
0.75
Summary
 Section 6.1 introduces the idea of random
variables, a crucial concept that we will use
to assess the behavior of variable processes
for the remainder of the text.
 Random variables are variables whose value
is determined at least partly by chance.
 Discrete random variables take values that
are either finite or countable and may be put
in a list.
 Continuous random variables take an infinite
number of possible values, represented by
an interval on the number line.
Summary
 Discrete random variables can be described
using a probability distribution, which
specifies the probability of observing each
value of the random variable.
 Such a distribution can take the form of a
table, graph or formula.
 Probability distributions describe
populations, not samples.
 We can find the mean μ, standard deviation
σ, and variance σ2 of a discrete random
variable using formulas.
 6.2 Binomial Probability Distribution
6.2 Binomial Probability
Distribution
Objectives:
By the end of this section, I will be
able to…

1) Explain what constitutes a binomial

experiment.
2) Compute probabilities using the binomial
probability formula.
3) Find probabilities using the binomial tables.
4) Calculate and interpret the mean, variance,
and standard deviation of the binomial
random variable.
Factorial symbol
 For any integer n ≥ 0, the factorial symbol
n! is defined as follows:

 0! = 1

 1! = 1

 n! = n(n - 1)(n - 2) · · · 3 · 2 · 1
 Example

Find each of the following

1. 4!
2. 7!
 Example

ANSWER

1. 4! 4 3 2 1 24
2. 7! 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 5040
 Factorial on Calculator

Calculator
7 MATH PRB 4:!
which is
7!
Enter gives the result 5040
Combinations
An arrangement of items in which
 r items are chosen from n distinct items.
 repetition of items is not allowed (each item
is distinct).
 the order of the items is not important.
Example of a Combination
The number of different possible 5 card
poker hands. Verify this is a combination
by checking each of the three properties.
Identify r and n.
 Example

 Five cards will be drawn at random from a

deck of cards is depicted below
 Example
An arrangement of items in which
 5 cards are chosen from 52 distinct items.
 repetition of cards is not allowed (each card
is distinct).
 the order of the cards is not important.
Combination Formula

The number of combinations of r items chosen

from n different items is denoted as nCr and
given by the formula:

n!
n Cr
r! n r !
 Example

Find the value of

C
7 4
 Example

ANSWER:
7!
7 C4
4! (7 4)!
7!
4! 3!
7 6 5 4 3 21
( 4 3 2 1) (3 2 1)
7 6 5
3 21
7 5
35
Combinations on Calculator
Calculator
7 MATH PRB 3:nCr 4
To get: 7 C4

Then Enter gives 35

Example of a Combination
Determine the number of different
possible 5 card poker hands.
 Example

ANSWER:

52 C5 2,598,960
Motivational Example

Genetics
• In mice an allele A for agouti (gray-brown,
grizzled fur) is dominant over the allele a,
which determines a non-agouti color.
Suppose each parent has the genotype Aa
and 4 offspring are produced. What is the
probability that exactly 3 of these have
agouti fur?
Motivational Example

• A single offspring has genotypes:

A a
Sample Space
A AA Aa { AA, Aa, aA, aa}
a aA aa
Motivational Example

• Agouti genotype is dominant

• Event that offspring is agouti:
{ AA, Aa, aA}
• Therefore, for any one birth:
P(agouti genotype) 3 / 4

P(not agouti genotype) 1 / 4

Motivational Example

• Let G represent the event of an agouti

offspring and N represent the event of a
non-agouti
• Exactly three agouti offspring may occur
in four different ways (in order of birth):

NGGG, GNGG, GGNG, GGGN

Motivational Example
• Consecutive events (birth of a mouse)
are independent and using multiplication
rule:

P( N G G G) P( N ) P(G ) P(G ) P(G )

1 3 3 3 27
4 4 4 4 256

P(G N G G) P(G ) P( N ) P(G ) P(G )

3 1 3 3 27
4 4 4 4 256
Motivational Example

P(G G N G) P(G ) P(G ) P( N ) P(G )

3 3 1 3 27
4 4 4 4 256

P(G G G N) P(G ) P(G ) P(G ) P( N )

3 3 3 1 27
4 4 4 4 256
Motivational Example

• P(exactly 3 offspring has agouti fur)

P(first birth N OR second birth N OR third birth N OR fourth birth N)

1 3 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 1
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

3
3 1 108
4 0.422
4 4 256
Binomial Experiment

Agouti fur example may be

considered a binomial
experiment
Binomial Experiment
Four Requirements:

1) Each trial of the experiment has only two

possible outcomes (success or failure)

2) Fixed number of trials

3) Experimental outcomes are independent of

each other

4) Probability of observing a success remains

the same from trial to trial
Binomial Experiment
Agouti fur example may be considered a binomial
experiment

1) Each trial of the experiment has only two

possible outcomes (success=agouti fur or
failure=non-agouti fur)

2) Fixed number of trials (4 births)

3) Experimental outcomes are independent of

each other

4) Probability of observing a success remains the

same from trial to trial (¾)
Binomial Probability Distribution
When a binomial experiment is performed,
the set of all of possible numbers of
successful outcomes of the experiment
together with their associated probabilities
makes a binomial probability
distribution.
Binomial Probability
Distribution Formula
For a binomial experiment, the probability of
observing exactly X successes in n trials
where the probability of success for any one
trial is p is

X n X
P( X ) C
n X p (1 p )
where
n!
n CX
X! n X !
Binomial Probability
Distribution Formula

Let q=1-p

X n X
P( X ) C
n X p q
Rationale for the Binomial
Probability Formula

n! n-x
P(x) = (n – x )!x!
• px • q

The number of
outcomes with exactly
x successes among n
trials
Binomial Probability Formula

n! n-x
P(x) = (n – x )!x!
• px • q

Number of The probability of x

outcomes with exactly successes among n
x successes among n trials for any one
trials particular order
Agouti Fur Genotype Example

X event of a birth with agouti fur

3 1
4! 3 1
P( X )
(4 3)! 3! 4 4
3 1
3 1
4
4 4
27 1
4
64 4
108
0.422
256
 Binomial Probability Distribution
Formula: Calculator

2ND VARS
A:binompdf(4, .75, 3)

n, p, x

Enter gives the result 0.421875

Binomial Distribution Tables
 n is the number of trials
 X is the number of successes
 p is the probability of observing a success

See Example
6.16 on
page 278
for more
information

FIGURE 6.7 Excerpt from the binomial tables.

 Example

Page 284
 Example

ANSWER
X number of heads

P( X 5)
5 20 5
20 C5 (0.5) (0.5)
5 15
15,504 (0.5) (0.5)
0.0148
Binomial Mean, Variance, and
Standard Deviation

 Mean (or expected value): μ = n · p

Variance:
2
 np(1 p)
2
Use q 1 p, then npq

 Standard deviation:

np(1 p) npq
 Example
20 coin tosses
The expected number of heads:

np (20)(0.50) 10
Variance and standard deviation:
2
npq (20)(0.50)(0.50) 5.0

5 2.24
 Example

Page 284
Is this a Binomial Distribution?
Four Requirements:

1) Each trial of the experiment has only two

possible outcomes (makes the basket or does
not make the basket)

2) Fixed number of trials (50)

3) Experimental outcomes are independent of

each other

4) Probability of observing a success remains the

same from trial to trial (assumed to be
58.4%=0.584)
 Example

ANSWER
(a) X number of baskets

P( X 25)
25 25
50 C25 (0.584 ) (0.416 )
0.0549
 Example

ANSWER
(b) The expected value of X

np (50)(0.584) 29.2

The most likely number of

baskets is 29
 Example

ANSWER
(c) In a random sample of 50 of
O’Neal’s shots he is expected
to make 29.2 of them.
 Example
Page 285
Is this a Binomial Distribution?
Four Requirements:

1) Each trial of the experiment has only two

possible outcomes (contracted AIDS through
injected drug use or did not)

2) Fixed number of trials (120)

3) Experimental outcomes are independent of

each other

4) Probability of observing a success remains the

same from trial to trial (assumed to be
11%=0.11)
 Example

ANSWER
(a) X=number of white males who
contracted AIDS through injected
drug use

P( X 10)
10 110
120 C10 (0.11) (0.89)
0.0816
 Example

ANSWER
(b) At most 3 men is the same as
less than or equal to 3 men:
P( X 3) P( X 0) P( X 1) P( X 2) P( X 3)

Why do probabilities add?

 Example
Use TI-83+ calculator 2ND VARS to
get A:binompdf(n, p, X)

P( X 0) P( X 1) P( X 2) P( X 3)

= binompdf(120, .11, 0) + binompdf(120, .11, 1)

+ binompdf(120, .11, 2) + binompdf(120, .11,3)

5.535172385 E 4 0.000554
 Example

ANSWER
(c) Most likely number of white
males is the expected value of
X
np (120)(0.11) 13.2
 Example

ANSWER
(d) In a random sample of 120
white males with AIDS, it is
expected that approximately 13
of them will have contracted
AIDS by injected drug use
 Example

Page 286
 Example

ANSWER
(a)

2
npq (120)(0.11)(0.89) 11.748

11.748 3.43
RECALL: Outliers and z Scores
Data values are not unusual if

2 z - score 2

Otherwise, they are moderately

unusual or an outlier (see page 131)
 Z score Formulas

Sample Population
x x x
z z
s
 Example
Z-score for 20 white males who
contracted AIDS through injected drug
use:
20 13.2
z 1.98
3.43

It would not be unusual to find 20 white

males who contracted AIDS through injected
drug use in a random sample of 120 white
males with AIDS.
Summary

 The most important discrete distribution is

the binomial distribution, where there are
two possible outcomes, each with probability
of success p, and n independent trials.

 The probability of observing a particular

number of successes can be calculated using
the binomial probability distribution formula.
Summary

 Binomial probabilities can also be found

using the binomial tables or using
technology.

 There are formulas for finding the mean,

variance, and standard deviation of a
binomial random variable.
6.3 Continuous Random
Variables and the Normal
Probability Distribution
Objectives:
By the end of this section, I will be
able to…

1) Identify a continuous probability

distribution.

2) Explain the properties of the normal

probability distribution.
FIGURE 6.15- Histograms

(a) Relatively
small sample
(n = 100)
with large class
widths (0.5 lb).

(b) Large sample

(n = 200)
with smaller class
widths (0.2 lb).
Figure 6.15 continued

(c) Very large

sample (n = 400)
with very small
class widths
(0.1 lb).

(d) Eventually,
theoretical histogram of
entire population
becomes smooth curve
with class widths
arbitrarily small.
Continuous Probability Distributions
 A graph that indicates on the horizontal axis
the range of values that the continuous
random variable X can take

 Density curve is drawn above the horizontal

axis

 Must follow the Requirements for the

Probability Distribution of a Continuous
Random Variable
Requirements for Probability
Distribution of a Continuous
Random Variable
1) The total area under the density curve
must equal 1 (this is the Law of Total
Probability for Continuous Random
Variables).

2) The vertical height of the density curve can

never be negative. That is, the density
curve never goes below the horizontal axis.
Probability for a Continuous
Random Variable

 Probability for Continuous Distributions

is represented by area under the curve
above an interval.
The Normal Probability Distribution
 Most important probability distribution in the
world

 Population is said to be normally distributed,

the data values follow a normal probability
distribution

 population mean is μ

 population standard deviation is σ

 μ and σ are parameters of the normal

distribution
FIGURE 6.19
 The normal distribution is symmetric about
its mean μ (bell-shaped).
Properties of the Normal
Density Curve (Normal Curve)
1) It is symmetric about the mean μ.

2) The highest point occurs at X = μ, because

symmetry implies that the mean equals the
median, which equals the mode of the
distribution.

3) It has inflection points at μ-σ and μ+σ.

4) The total area under the curve equals 1.

Properties of the Normal
Density Curve (Normal Curve)
continued
5) Symmetry also implies that the area under
the curve to the left of μ and the area
under the curve to the right of μ are both
equal to 0.5 (Figure 6.19).

6) The normal distribution is defined for

values of X extending indefinitely in both
the positive and negative directions. As X
moves farther from the mean, the density
curve approaches but never quite touches
the horizontal axis.
 The Empirical Rule
For data sets having a distribution that is
approximately bell shaped, the following
properties apply:

 About 68% of all values fall within 1

standard deviation of the mean.
 About 95% of all values fall within 2
standard deviations of the mean.
 About 99.7% of all values fall within 3
standard deviations of the mean.
FIGURE 6.23 The Empirical Rule.
Drawing a Graph to Solve
Normal Probability Problems

1. Draw a “generic” bell-shaped curve, with a

horizontal number line under it that is
labeled as the random variable X.

 Insert the mean μ in the center of the

number line.
Steps in Drawing a Graph to
Help You Solve Normal
Probability Problems

2) Mark on the number line the value of X

indicated in the problem.
Shade in the desired area under the
normal curve. This part will depend on
what values of X the problem is asking
about.
3) Proceed to find the desired area or
probability using the empirical rule.
 Example

Page 295
 Example

ANSWER
 Example

Page 296
 Example

ANSWER
 Example

Page 296
 Example

ANSWER
Summary

 Continuous random variables assume

infinitely many possible values, with no gap
between the values.

 Probability for continuous random variables

consists of area above an interval on the
number line and under the distribution
curve.
Summary
 The normal distribution is the most
important continuous probability
distribution.

 It is symmetric about its mean μ and has

standard deviation σ.

 One should always sketch a picture of a

normal probability problem to help solve it.
6.4 Standard Normal
Distribution

Objectives:
By the end of this section, I will be
able to…

1) Find areas under the standard normal

curve, given a Z-value.

2) Find the standard normal Z-value, given an

area.
The Standard Normal (Z)
Distribution

 A normal distribution with

mean μ = 0 and

standard deviation σ = 1.

When the normal curve is plotted, we

plot Z on the horizontal axis
The Empirical Rule For Standard Normal Distribution

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
 Example

Find the area that lies under the

standard normal curve between
Z=-1 and Z=2
 Example

ANSWER:

0.34+0.34+0.135=0.815
 Example

Find the area that lies under the

standard normal curve that lies
above Z=3
 Example

ANSWER:

Since 100%-99.7%=0.3%=0.003,
we take half of 0.003 to get:

0.0015
The Standard Normal (Z)
Distribution

 In fact, we can use a table look-up

method to compute the area under
the curve for a standard normal
distribution given any interval for Z

 Table C in Appendix on pages T-9

and T-10
Table C: Standard Normal Distribution

1. It is designed only for the standard normal

distribution, which has a mean of 0 and a
standard deviation of 1.
2. It is on two pages, with one page for
negative z-scores and the other page for
positive z-scores.
3. Each value in the body of the table is a
cumulative area from the left up to a
vertical boundary above a specific z-score.
Table continues to -0.0 in the appendix
Table continues to 3.4 in the appendix
Table C: Standard Normal Distribution
4. When working with a graph, avoid confusion
between z-scores and areas:
z Score
Distance along horizontal scale of the standard
normal distribution; refer to the leftmost
column and top row of Table C.
Area
Region under the curve; refer to the values in
the body of Table C.

5. The part of the z-score denoting hundredths is

found across the top.
Table 6.7
Steps for finding areas under the
standard normal curve
 Example

Page 307

Do problems 18 and 20
 Example

ANSWER
(18)

Use Table C for Z=2.00

 Example

ANSWER
(20)

Use Table C for Z=0.500

 Example

Page 307

Do problems 26 and 28
Example
 Example

ANSWER
26(c)
Use Table C to find that the area
to the left of Z=2.12 is 0.9830.
We want the area to the right of
Z=2.12 which will be

1-0.9830=0.017
Example
 Example

ANSWER
28(c)
Use Table C to find that the area
to the left of Z=-0.69 is 0.2451.
We want the area to the right of
Z=-0.69 which will be

1-0.2451=0.7549
 Example

Page 308

Do problems 32 and 36
Example
 Example

Page 308

Do problems 32 and 38
Example
 Example
ANSWER
32(c)
Use Table C to find that the area to
the left of Z=1.28 is 0.8997.
Use Table C to find that the area to
the left of Z=1.96 is 0.9750.
We want the area to the between
Z=1.28 and Z=1.96 which will be

0.9750-0.8997=0.0753
Example
 Example
ANSWER
38(c)
Use Table C to find that the area to
the left of Z=-2.01 is 0.0222.
Use Table C to find that the area to
the left of Z=2.37 is 0.9911.
We want the area to the between
Z=-2.01 and Z=2.37 which will be

0.9911-0.0222=0.9689
 Example
Page 308

Do problem 42
Example
 Example
Page 308

Do problem 52
Example
 Example
Page 308

Do problem 58
 Example

Note: this answer is the Z value in the

table that corresponds to:

1 - 0.5120 = 0.4880
Summary

 The standard normal distribution has mean

μ=0 and standard deviation σ=1.

 This distribution is often called the Z

distribution.

 The Z table and technology can be used to

find areas under the standard normal curve.
Summary
 In the Z table, the numbers on the outside
are values of Z, and the numbers inside are
areas to the left of values of Z.

 The Z table and technology can also be used

to find a value of Z, given a probability or an
area under the curve.
6.5 Applications of the Normal
Distribution
Objectives:
By the end of this section, I will be
able to…

1) Compute probabilities for a given value of

any normal random variable.
2) Find the appropriate value of any normal
random variable, given an area or
probability.
3) Calculate binomial probabilities using the
normal approximation to the binomial
distribution. (OMIT)
Standardizing a Normal
Random Variable

 Any normal random variable X can be

transformed into the standard normal
random variable Z by standardizing
using the formula

x
Z
Finding Probabilities for Any
Normal Distribution
Step 1
 Determine the random variable X, the mean
μ, and the standard deviation σ.

 Draw the normal curve for X, and shade the

desired area.

Step 2
 Standardize by using the formula
Z = (X - μ )/σ to find the values of Z
corresponding to the X-values.
Finding Probabilities for Any
Normal Distribution
Step 3
 Draw the standard normal curve and shade
the area corresponding to the shaded area
in the graph of X.

Step4
 Find the area under the standard normal
curve using either (a) the Z table or (b)
technology.
 This area is equal to the area under the
normal curve for X drawn in Step 1.
 Example
Page 323

Do problems 6,8,10,12
 Example

Solutions:

6) 0.1587
8) 0.0062
10) 0.8413
12) 0.8400
Calculator Use
 Calculator Use

Do problem 12 again with calculator

 Calculator Use

Or use 10^99 as larger value and -10^99

as the smaller value

Do problems 6,8 again with calculator

Finding Normal Data Values for
Specified Probabilities
Step 1

 Determine X, μ, and σ, and draw the normal

curve for X.

 Shade the desired area.

 Mark the position of X1, the unknown value

of X.
Finding Normal Data Values for
Specified Probabilities
Step 2

 Find the Z-value corresponding to the

desired area.

 Look up the area you identified in Step 1 on

the inside of the Z table.

 If you do not find the exact value of your

area, by convention choose the area that is
closest.
Finding Normal Data Values for
Specified Probabilities
Step 3

 Transform this value of Z into a value of X,

which is the solution.

 Use the formula X1 = Zσ + μ.

 Example
Page 323

Do problems 18,20,22
 Example

Solutions:

18) X=57.2
20) X=53.55 and X=86.45
22) X=44.2 and X=95.8
 Calculator Use

Do problem 18 and 22 again with calculator

 Calculator Use

Do problem 18 and 22 again with calculator

Example 6.38 - Finding the X-
values that mark the
Boundaries of the middle 95% of
X-values
Edmunds.com reported that the average
amount that people were paying for a 2007
Toyota Camry XLE was $23,400. Let X = price,
and assume that price follows a normal
distribution with μ = $23,400 and σ = $1000.
Find the prices that separate the middle
95% of 2007 Toyota Camry XLE prices from
the bottom 2.5% and the top 2.5%.
Example 6.38 continued
Solution
Step 1
 Determine X, μ, and σ, and draw the normal
curve for X.
 Let X = price, μ = $23,400, and σ = $1000.
 The middle 95% of prices are delimited by
X1 and X2, as shown in Figure 6.49.

FIGURE 6.49
Example 6.38 continued
Solution
Step 2
 Find the Z-values corresponding to the
desired area.
 The area to the left of X1 equals 0.025, and
the area to the left of X2 equals 0.975.
 Looking up area 0.025 on the inside of the Z
table gives us Z1 = –1.96.
 Looking up area 0.975 on the inside of the Z
table gives us Z2 = 1.96.
Example 6.38 continued
Solution
Step 3
 Transform using the formula X1 = Zσ + μ.
 X1 = Z1σ + μ
=(–1.96)(1000) + 23,400 = 21,440
X2 =Z2σ + μ
=(1.96)(1000) + 23,400 = 25,360
 The prices that separate the middle 95% of
2007 Toyota Camry XLE prices from the
bottom 2.5% of prices and the top 2.5% of
prices are $21,440 and $25,360.
 Example
Page 324
 Example

Solution:

Let X be the random variable that

represents how many points
McGrady scores in a randomly
chosen game. Find:

P(X 30)
 Example

Solution:

P( X 30) 1 P( X 30)
1 0.5987
0.4013
 Example
Page 324
 Example

Solution:

P(10 X 20) 0.1464

 Example
Page 324
 Example

Solution:
Find X 1 so that

P( X X1) 0.05

that is, the 5th percentile (only 5%

of his games did he have a lower
score)
 Example

Solution:

P( X X1) 0.05

Gives the value:

X 1 14.84 points
 Example
Page 324
 Example

Solution:
The z-score for X=40 points is
1.50. Since this z-score is more
than -2 and less than 2, this is
not unusual.
Summary
 Section 6.5 showed how to solve normal
probability problems for any conceivable
normal random variable by first
standardizing and then using the methods of
Section 6.4.

 Methods for finding probabilities for a given

value of the normal random variable X were
discussed.
Summary
 For any normal probability distribution,
values of X can be found for given
probabilities using the “backward” methods
of Section 6.4 and the formula X1 = Z1σ + μ.