Stat 200 Exam 3A

Chpt. 6 & 7
100 Points

ANSWER KEY
Name

SHOW ALL WORK FOR FULL CREDIT! Simplify answers where appropriate.
1. Use the standard normal distribution to find each of the following probabilities:
a. (6 points) ( > 1.32).

0.9066

0.0934

From the table (or calculator), the area

to the left is 0.9066. Thus,
( > 1.34) = 1 0.9066
= 0.0934

Z=1.32

b. (6 points) (0.40 < < 1.32).

Area to the left of = 0.40 is 0.3446.

Using the result in (a) above:
(0.40 < < 1.32)
= 0.9066 0.3446
= 0.5620
z = 0.40

z = 1.32

2. (6 points) Find the z-score such that the area to its right is 0.8980.

0.1020

0.8980

z=?

For the area to the right to be 0.8980,

the area to the left of z will be:
1 0.8980 = 0.1020
From the table, this is the area to the
left of = 1.27.

Alternatively, use the table to look up the area 0.8980. This is the area to the
left of = 1.27. Hence, it is the area to the right of = 1.27.

Stat 200 Exam 3A: Chpt. 6 & 7

Pg. 1

3. (8 points) The time it takes to assemble a car at a certain plant is a normally distributed with a
mean of 20 hours and a standard deviation of 3.4 hours. What is the probability that the time taken to
assemble a randomly-selected car will be between 15 and 22 hours?

15 20
= 1.47
3.4
22 20
For = 22: =
= 0.59
3.4
For = 15: =

= 1.47

= 0.59

The area to the left of = 1.47 is 0.0708.

The area to the left of = 0.59 is 0.7224.

(15 < < 22) = 0.7224 0.0708 = 0.6516 65.16%

4. (7 points) Consider the same data for car assembly time given in the last problem. For a randomly , will be
selected sample of 15 cars, what is the probability that the sample mean assembly time,
more than 19 hours?

The Central Limit Theorem applies, so we obtain the z-score:

=
=

19 20
3.415

= 1.14
= 1.14

The area under the curve to the left of = 1.14 is 0.1271. Therefore:

( > 1.14) = 1 0.1271 = 0.8729 87.29%

Stat 200 Exam 3A: Chpt. 6 & 7

Pg. 2

5. (8 points) Students take a test to qualify for an advanced placement mathematics class. The
scores are normally distributed with a mean of 74 and a standard deviation of 7. Students are
admitted to the advanced class if their score is in the top 15%. Find the cutoff score for admission to
the advanced class.
For the top 15%, need 85% of the area under
the curve to be to the left. The closest area is
0.8508 for = 1.04.
0.85

0.15
z=?

So:

= 74 + 1.04(7) 81.28

So the cutoff score for admission to the advanced class is 81.3 points.

6. (5 points) 180 people were asked if they agree or disagree with the statement that prime time
television has become too violent. The researcher wishes to determine the probability that fewer than
125 people agree, using the normal distribution approximation for a binomial distribution. After
applying the continuity correction, the correct probability statement to use is:
a.
b.
c.
d.

( > 125.5)
X ( < 124.5)
( < 125.5)
(124.5 < < 125.5)

Stat 200 Exam 3A: Chpt. 6 & 7

Pg. 3

7. (8 points) According to a report of the Neilsen Company, 65% of Internet searches in May 2010
used the Google search engine. In a random sample of 100 searches, what is the probability that
more than 70 of the searches used Google?
This is a binomial distribution probability, approximated with the normal distribution.
= 100, = 0.65, = 0.35. Thus:

= = 100(0.65) = 65

= 100(0.65)(0.35) = 4.77

For the continuity correction, we need

( > 70.5), so the z-score is:

70.5 65
= 1.15
4.77

0.8749

0.1251
z =1.15

From the table, the area to the left of z is

0.8749. Thus:

( > 70.5) = 1 0.8749 = 0.1251 12.51%

8. (6 points) Check the appropriate box to make a true statement.

In constructing a confidence interval for the true mean with given values of n, , and , the
a.
interval will be wider for:
a confidence level of 95%

b.

a confidence level of 99%

In constructing a confidence interval for the true mean with given values of n, , and a stated
confidence level, the interval will be wider for:

= 50

= 100

Stat 200 Exam 3A: Chpt. 6 & 7

Pg. 4

9. (8 points) A college administrator takes a survey of 60 students to determine how much time
students spend on homework assignments during a typical week. The responses have a sample
mean of 7.4 hours. The population standard deviation is known to be 2.8 hours. Find the 95%
confidence interval of the true mean. Assume the variable is normally distributed.
Since the population standard deviation is known, this is a z confidence interval. For a 95%
C.I., we have = 0.05 and so 2 = 1.96

= 7.4

= 60

= 2.8

2 (
So the confidence interval of the true mean is:

7.4 1.96 (

2.8
60

) = 6.7

7.4 + 1.96 (

2.8
60

) = 8.1

6.7 < < 8.1

10. (8 points) A researcher wishes to estimate within $25 the average cost of postage a community
college spends in one year. If she wishes to be 90% confident, how large of a sample would be
necessary if the population standard deviation is $80?
For a 90% C.I., we have 0.10 and so z

= 25

z0.05 1.65

= 80

Then the sample size is determined by:

z 2
n
E

1.65 80

27.9

25

So the sample size needed is

n 28 .

This is Chapter 7 Review #3

Stat 200 Exam 3A: Chpt. 6 & 7

Pg. 5

11. (8 points) In a random sample of 23 books from the Kids Corner at the library, the average
number of pages per book is found to be 41 with a standard deviation of 12.3 pages. Find the 90%
confidence interval of the true mean number of pages. Assume the variable is normally
distributed.
Since the population standard deviation is unknown, n 30 , and the population is normally
distributed, the t-distribution can be used.
For a 90% C.I. with n 1 22 degrees of freedom, we have t

= 41

= 23

12.3
23

1.717

= 12.3

2 (
So the confidence interval of the true mean is:

41 1.717 (

) = 36.6

41 + 1.717 (

12.3
23

) = 45.4

36.6 < < 45.4

12. (8 points) In a sample of 200 people who work in computer-related jobs, it was found that 42 of
them had changed jobs in the past six months. Find the 95% confidence interval of the population
proportion of those who work in computer-related jobs who have changed jobs within the past six
months.
42
We have p
0.21 and q 1 0.21 0.79 .
200
For a 95% C.I., we have 0.05 and so z

z0.025 1.96

So the confidence interval of the population proportion is:

0.21 1.96

(0.21)(0.79)
200

= 0.154

0.21 + 1.96

(0.21)(0.79)
200

= 0.266

0.154 < < 0.266

Stat 200 Exam 3A: Chpt. 6 & 7

Pg. 6

13. (8 points) A random sample of 15 laptop computers is selected, and the lifetime (in months) of
the batteries was measured. The variance of the sample was 8.6. Find the 90% confidence
intervals for the variance and standard deviation. Assume the variable is normally distributed.

For a 90% C.I., we have = 0.1 and so 2 = 0.05. Also, d.f. = n 1 = 14, and
2 = 8.6. Thus:
2
2

= 6.571 and
= 23.685

( 1) 2

14(8.6)
=
5.1
23.685

( 1) 2

14(8.6)
18.3
6.571

So the confidence intervals are:

5.1 < 2 < 18.3
2.3 < < 4.3
Compare to Chp. 7 Review #15

BONUS (Up to 5 points): A 95% confidence interval of the true mean is found, using a sample
standard deviation and given a sample mean of 54.3. The sample size is n = 17, and the population
is known to be normally distributed. If the confidence interval is 51.2 < < 57.4, find (should
have read find s).
NOTE: Since the problem stated a sample standard deviation, this should have been a t
confidence interval. However, due to a typo it also said to find , which would mean a z
confidence interval. Thus, I accepted EITHER method for full credit.
As a t confidence interval: For a 95% C.I. with
As a z confidence interval: For a 95% C.I. we
d.f. = 16, we have 2 = 2.120.
have 2 = 1.96.
We can use either the upper or lower bound of
the confidence interval to solve for , e.g.:

We can use either the upper or lower bound of

the confidence interval to solve for , e.g.:

54.3 + 2.120 (

54.3 + 1.96 (

2.120 (

17

17

) = 57.4
) = 3.1
17
= 3.1 (
) 6.0
2.120

) = 57.4
17

1.96 (
) = 3.1
17
= 3.1 (

17
) 6.5
1.96

Stat 200 Exam 3A: Chpt. 6 & 7

Pg. 7