Algebra II : Normal Distributions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra II

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 :Graphing Data

The ages of the students at GW High School are normally distributed with a mean ofand a standard deviation ofyears.

What is the proportion of students that are younger thanyears old?

Possible Answers:

Not enough information to answer the question.

Correct answer:

解释:

This question relates to therule of normal distribution. We know thatof the data are withinstandard deviations from the mean.

In this case this means thatof the students are between

and

and

and

Therefore we haveof the students that are outside of this range. Since the normal distribution is symmetric, the proportion of students belowis the same as the proportion of students above.

Thus the right answer isor.

Example Question #1 :Graphing Data

The scores for your recent english test follow a normal distribution pattern. The mean was a 75 and the standard deviation was 4 points. What percentage of the scores were below a 67?

Possible Answers:

5%

2.5%

7.5%

10%

Correct answer:

2.5%

解释:

Use the 68-95-99.7 rule which states that 68% of the data is within 1 standard deviation (in either direction) of the mean, 95% is within 2 standard deviations, and 99.7% is within 3 standard deviations of the mean.

In this case, 95% of the students' scores were between:

75-(2 x 4) and 75+(2 x 4)

or between a 67 and a 83, with equal amounts of the leftover 5% of scores above and below those scores. This would mean that 2.5% of the students scored below a 67% on the test.

Example Question #3 :Graphing Data

Your class just took a math test. The mean test score was a 78 with a standard deviation of 2 points. With this being the case, 99.7% of the class scored between what two scores?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

解释:

Use the 68-95-99.7 rule which states that 68% of the data is within 1 standard deviation (in either direction) of the mean, 95% is within 2 standard deviations, and 99.7% is within 3 standard deviations (in either direction) of the mean.

In this case, 99.7% of the students' scores were between 3 standard deviation above the mean and 3 standard deviations below the mean:

78-(2 x 3) and 78+(2 x 3)

or between a 72 and an 84.

Example Question #4 :Graphing Data

All of the following statements regarding aNormal Distributionare true except:

Possible Answers:

All of these are true.

A graph of a normally-distributed data set is symmetrical.

A graph of a normally-distributed data set will have a single, central peak at the mean of the data set that it describes.

The shape of the graph of a normally-distributed data set is dependent upon the mean and the standard deviation of the data set that it describes.

Between two graphs of normally-distributed data sets, the graph of the set with ahigherstandard deviation will bewiderthan the graph of the set with a lower standard deviation.

Correct answer:

All of these are true.

解释:

The graph of a normally-distributed data set is symmetrical.

The graph of a normally-distributed data set has a single, central peak at the mean of the data set that it describes.

The graph of a normally-distributed data set will vary based only upon the mean and the standard deviation of the set that it describes.

The graph of a normally-distributed data set with a higher standard deviation will be wider than the graph of a normally-distributed data set with a lower standard deviation.

The question asks us to find the statement that isnot true; however, all statements are true so the correct response is "All of these are true."

learning Tools by Varsity Tutors