Using the GDC: (see “Distributions & GDC” on Moodle for more help with Ti84 and TiNspire)
Finding Probability (area):
Press 2ND VARS (dist) and then 2:Normal cdf; Note:
Enter values: We never use Normal pdf
lower: -1E99 (-1 x1099) “E” = 2ND , (EE)
upper: 1.2 The GDC can calculate area BOTH to the left and right (+ ∞ = 9E99)
𝜇: 0
𝜎:1 and then click Paste & ENTER (twice) Always sketch a distribution as part of your answer
Standard Normal Distribution
Examples: 1. For the standard normal variable Z, find:
a) p(Z < 1) b) p(Z < 0.03)
• Use the inverse normal feature on your calculator (found in the same menu as Normal Cdf)
the Area left of the boundary is NOT the Z-Value – you use the Area and the “inverse normal”
feature of the calculator to find the corresponding Z-value for that amount of accumulated area.
1. Find the values of a in each of these statements that refer to the standard normal variable, z:
a) p(Z < a) = 0.5478 b) p(Z > a) = 0.6 c) p(Z < a) = 0.05
Non-Standard Normal Distribution
• Most real-life distributions have a mean ≠ 0 and a standard variation ≠ 1.
• The x-axis of these distributions have an x score (instead of a z score).
• Probability calculations are performed in the GDC in the same way, by entering the values for 𝜇 and 𝜎.
5. The weight, W, of bags of rice follows a normal distribution with mean 1000g and standard deviation 4g.
a) Find the probability that a bag of rice chosen at random weighs between 990g and 1004g.
For a bag of rice chosen at random, P(1000 – a < W < 1000 + a) = 0.9
c) Find the value of a.
Non-Standard Normal Distribution
2. A university professor determines that 80% of this year’s History candidates should pass the final examination.
The examination results are expected to be normally distributed with mean 62 and standard deviation 13.
3. The students of Class 2017 sat a physics test. From the results, the average score was 46 with a standard
deviation of 25. The teacher decided to award an A to the top 7% of the students in the class. Assuming the
scores were normally distributed, find the lowest score that a student must obtain in order to achieve an A.
Using Z-scores to find 𝜇 or 𝜎
• If either the standard deviation or the mean is not given, you can’t use the GDC directly to solve
a question.
• Use the area (probability) given to find the z-score (or “standardized value”) on a standard
normal curve.
• Then convert the z-score into a x-score and solve for the missing value using the formula given:
• If neither standard deviation or mean is given, you make 2 linear equations & solve in the GDC.
Using Z-scores to find 𝜇 or 𝜎
4. The lifetime of a particular make of mobile phone is normally distributed with a mean of 8 years and a standard
deviation of σ years. The chances that the phone will not last 5 years is 0.05. What is the value of the standard
deviation?
5. The weight of a population of men is found to be normally distributed with mean 69.5 kg. 13% of the men
weigh at least 72.1 kg, find the standard deviation of their weight.
Using Z-scores to find 𝜇 or 𝜎
4. Find the mean and the standard deviation of a normally distributed random variable X, if P(x ≥ 50) = 0.2
and P(x ≤ 20) = 0.3
IB question
The weights of fish in a lake are normally distributed with a mean of 760 g and standard deviation 𝜎. It is known that
78.87% of the fish have weights between 705 g and 815 g.
a) (i) Write down the probability that a fish weighs more than 760 g.
(ii) Find the probability that a fish weighs less than 815 g.
A fishing contest takes place in the lake. Small fish, called tiddlers, are thrown back into the lake. The maximum
weight of a tiddler is 1.5 standard deviations below the mean.
e) 25% of the fish in the lake are salmon. 10% of the salmon are tiddlers. Given that a fish caught at
random is a tiddler, find the probability that is a salmon.