NORMAL DISTRIBUTION AND STANDARDIZATION [157

marks]

1. [Maximum mark: 15] SPM.2.SL.TZ0.8

The length, X mm, of a certain species of seashell is normally distributed with
mean 25 and variance, σ2.

The probability that X is less than 24.15 is 0.1446.

(a) Find P(24.15 < X < 25). [2]

(b.i) Find σ, the standard deviation of X. [3]

(b.ii) Hence, find the probability that a seashell selected at random

has a length greater than 26 mm. [2]

A random sample of 10 seashells is collected on a beach. Let Y represent the

number of seashells with lengths greater than 26 mm.

(c) Find E(Y). [3]

(d) Find the probability that exactly three of these seashells have a
length greater than 26 mm. [2]

(e) A seashell selected at random has a length less than 26 mm.

Find the probability that its length is between 24.15 mm and 25

mm. [3]
2. [Maximum mark: 15] EXN.2.SL.TZ0.8
The time, T minutes, taken to complete a jigsaw puzzle can be modelled by a
normal distribution with mean μ and standard deviation 8. 6.

It is found that 30% of times taken to complete the jigsaw puzzle are longer
than 36. 8 minutes.

(a) By stating and solving an appropriate equation, show, correct

to two decimal places, that μ = 32. 29. [4]

Use μ = 32. 29 in the remainder of the question.

(b) Find the 86th percentile time to complete the jigsaw puzzle. [2]

(c) Find the probability that a randomly chosen person will take
more than 30 minutes to complete the jigsaw puzzle. [2]

Six randomly chosen people complete the jigsaw puzzle.

(d) Find the probability that at least five of them will take more
than 30 minutes to complete the jigsaw puzzle. [3]

(e) Having spent 25 minutes attempting the jigsaw puzzle, a

randomly chosen person had not yet completed the puzzle.

Find the probability that this person will take more than 30
minutes to complete the jigsaw puzzle. [4]
3. [Maximum mark: 5] 23M.2.SL.TZ1.5
A company manufactures metal tubes for bicycle frames. The
diameters of the tubes, D mm, are normally distributed with mean
32 and standard deviation σ. The interquartile range of the diameters

is 0. 28.

Find the value of σ. [5]

4. [Maximum mark: 16] 22N.2.SL.TZ0.9
The time worked, T , in hours per week by employees of a large company is
normally distributed with a mean of 42 and standard deviation 10. 7.

(a) Find the probability that an employee selected at random

works more than 40 hours per week. [2]

(b) A group of four employees is selected at random. Each

employee is asked in turn whether they work more than 40
hours per week. Find the probability that the fourth employee
is the only one in the group who works more than 40 hours per
week. [3]

A large group of employees work more than 40 hours per week.

(c.i) An employee is selected at random from this large group.

Find the probability that this employee works less than 55

hours per week. [4]

(c.ii) Ten employees are selected at random from this large group.

Find the probability that exactly five of them work less than 55
hours per week. [3]

It is known that P(a ≤ T ≤ b) = 0. 904 and that

P(T > b) = 2P(T < a), where a and b are numbers of hours worked per
week. An employee who works fewer than a hours per week is considered to be
a part-time employee.

(d) Find the maximum time, in hours per week, that an employee
can work and still be considered part-time. [4]
5. [Maximum mark: 16] 22M.2.SL.TZ1.9
A bakery makes two types of muffins: chocolate muffins and banana muffins.

The weights, C grams, of the chocolate muffins are normally distributed with a
mean of 62 g and standard deviation of 2. 9 g.

(a) Find the probability that a randomly selected chocolate muffin

weighs less than 61 g. [2]

(b) In a random selection of 12 chocolate muffins, find the

probability that exactly 5 weigh less than 61 g. [2]

The weights, B grams, of the banana muffins are normally distributed with a
mean of 68 g and standard deviation of 3. 4 g.

Each day 60% of the muffins made are chocolate.

On a particular day, a muffin is randomly selected from all those made at the
bakery.

(c.i) Find the probability that the randomly selected muffin weighs
less than 61 g. [4]

(c.ii) Given that a randomly selected muffin weighs less than 61 g,

find the probability that it is chocolate. [3]

The machine that makes the chocolate muffins is adjusted so that the mean
weight of the chocolate muffins remains the same but their standard deviation
changes to σ g. The machine that makes the banana muffins is not adjusted. The
probability that the weight of a randomly selected muffin from these machines is
less than 61 g is now 0. 157.

(d) Find the value of σ. [5]

6. [Maximum mark: 18] 22M.2.SL.TZ2.9
The time it takes Suzi to drive from home to work each morning is normally
distributed with a mean of 35 minutes and a standard deviation of σ minutes.

On 25% of days, it takes Suzi longer than 40 minutes to drive to work.

(a) Find the value of σ. [4]

(b) On a randomly selected day, find the probability that Suzi’s

drive to work will take longer than 45 minutes. [2]

Suzi will be late to work if it takes her longer than 45 minutes to drive to work.
The time it takes to drive to work each day is independent of any other day.

Suzi will work five days next week.

(c) Find the probability that she will be late to work at least one
day next week. [3]

(d) Given that Suzi will be late to work at least one day next week,
find the probability that she will be late less than three times. [5]

Suzi will work 22 days this month. She will receive a bonus if she is on time at
least 20 of those days.

So far this month, she has worked 16 days and been on time 15 of those days.

(e) Find the probability that Suzi will receive a bonus. [4]
7. [Maximum mark: 16] 21N.2.SL.TZ0.9
The random variable X follows a normal distribution with mean μ and standard
deviation σ.

(a) Find P(μ − 1. 5σ < X < μ + 1. 5σ). [3]

The avocados grown on a farm have weights, in grams, that are normally
distributed with mean μ and standard deviation σ. Avocados are categorized as
small, medium, large or premium, according to their weight. The following table
shows the probability an avocado grown on the farm is classified as small,
medium, large or premium.

The maximum weight of a small avocado is 106. 2 grams.

The minimum weight of a premium avocado is 182. 6 grams.

(b) Find the value of μ and of σ. [5]

A supermarket purchases all the avocados from the farm that weigh more than
106. 2 grams.

Find the probability that an avocado chosen at random from this purchase is
categorized as

(c.i) medium. [2]

(c.ii) large. [1]

(c.iii) premium. [1]

(d) The selling prices of the different categories of avocado at this

supermarket are shown in the following table:
 The supermarket pays the farm $ 200 for the avocados and
assumes it will then sell them in exactly the same proportion as
purchased from the farm.

According to this model, find the minimum number of

avocados that must be sold so that the net profit for the
supermarket is at least $ 438.
[4]

8. [Maximum mark: 6] 21M.2.SL.TZ1.3

A company produces bags of sugar whose masses, in grams, can be modelled by
a normal distribution with mean 1000 and standard deviation 3. 5. A bag of
sugar is rejected for sale if its mass is less than 995 grams.

(a) Find the probability that a bag selected at random is rejected. [2]

(b) Estimate the number of bags which will be rejected from a

random sample of 100 bags. [1]

(c) Given that a bag is not rejected, find the probability that it has a
mass greater than 1005 grams. [3]
9. [Maximum mark: 15] 21M.2.SL.TZ2.8
The flight times, T minutes, between two cities can be modelled by a normal
distribution with a mean of 75 minutes and a standard deviation of σ minutes.

(a) Given that 2% of the flight times are longer than 82 minutes,
find the value of σ. [3]

(b) Find the probability that a randomly selected flight will have a
flight time of more than 80 minutes. [2]

(c) Given that a flight between the two cities takes longer than 80
minutes, find the probability that it takes less than 82 minutes. [4]

On a particular day, there are 64 flights scheduled between these two cities.

(d) Find the expected number of flights that will have a flight time
of more than 80 minutes. [3]

(e) Find the probability that more than 6 of the flights on this
particular day will have a flight time of more than 80 minutes. [3]
10. [Maximum mark: 6] 19M.1.SL.TZ1.T_11
Consider the following graphs of normal distributions.

(a) In the following table, write down the letter of the

corresponding graph next to the given mean and standard
deviation.

[2]

At an airport, the weights of suitcases (in kg) were measured. The weights are
normally distributed with a mean of 20 kg and standard deviation of 3.5 kg.

(b) Find the probability that a suitcase weighs less than 15 kg. [2]

(c) Any suitcase that weighs more than k kg is identified as excess

baggage.
19.6 % of the suitcases at this airport are identified as excess
baggage.
 Find the value of k.
[2]

11. [Maximum mark: 5] 19M.1.SL.TZ2.T_14

The price per kilogram of tomatoes, in euro, sold in various markets in a city is
found to be normally distributed with a mean of 3.22 and a standard deviation
of 0.84.

(a.ii) Find the price that is two standard deviations above the mean
price. [1]

(b) Find the probability that the price of a kilogram of tomatoes,

chosen at random, will be between 2.00 and 3.00 euro. [2]

(c) To stimulate reasonable pricing, the city offers a free permit to

the sellers whose price of a kilogram of tomatoes is in the
lowest 20 %.

Find the highest price that a seller can charge and still receive a
free permit. [2]
12. [Maximum mark: 5] 19M.1.SL.TZ2.T_14
The price per kilogram of tomatoes, in euro, sold in various markets in a city is
found to be normally distributed with a mean of 3.22 and a standard deviation
of 0.84.

(a.ii) Find the price that is two standard deviations above the mean
price. [1]

(b) Find the probability that the price of a kilogram of tomatoes,

chosen at random, will be between 2.00 and 3.00 euro. [2]

(c) To stimulate reasonable pricing, the city offers a free permit to

the sellers whose price of a kilogram of tomatoes is in the
lowest 20 %.

Find the highest price that a seller can charge and still receive a
free permit. [2]
13. [Maximum mark: 6] 18M.1.SL.TZ1.T_13
Malthouse school opens at 08:00 every morning.

The daily arrival times of the 500 students at Malthouse school follow a normal
distribution. The mean arrival time is 52 minutes after the school opens and the
standard deviation is 5 minutes.

(a.i) Find the probability that a student, chosen at random arrives at

least 60 minutes after the school opens. [2]

(a.ii) Find the probability that a student, chosen at random arrives

between 45 minutes and 55 minutes after the school opens. [2]

(b) A second school, Mulberry Park, also opens at 08:00 every

morning. The arrival times of the students at this school follows
exactly the same distribution as Malthouse school.

Given that, on one morning, 15 students arrive at least 60

minutes after the school opens, estimate the number of
students at Mulberry Park school. [2]
14. [Maximum mark: 6] 17N.1.SL.TZ0.T_13
Applicants for a job had to complete a mathematics test. The time they took to
complete the test is normally distributed with a mean of 53 minutes and a
standard deviation of 16.3. One of the applicants is chosen at random.

(a) Find the probability that this applicant took at least 40 minutes
to complete the test. [2]

For 11% of the applicants it took longer than k minutes to complete the test.

(b) Find the value of k. [2]

There were 400 applicants for the job.

(c) Estimate the number of applicants who completed the test in

less than 25 minutes. [2]

15. [Maximum mark: 7] 17N.2.SL.TZ0.S_7

The heights of adult males in a country are normally distributed with a
mean of 180 cm and a standard deviation of σ cm. 17% of these men
are shorter than 168 cm. 80% of them have heights between
(192 − h) cm and 192 cm.

Find the value of h. [7]

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