Statistics AP AP Problems

1. The depth from the surface of Earth to a refracting layer beneath the surface can be estimated using methods developed by seismologists.
One method is based on the time required for vibrations to travel from a distance explosion to a receiving point. The depth measurement
(M) is the sum of the true depth (D) and the random measurement error (E). This is, M = D + E. The measurement (E) is assumed to be
normally distributed with mean 0 feet and standard deviation 1.5 feet.
(a) If the true depth at a certain point is 2 feet, what is the probability that the depth measurement will be negative?
(b) Using a sketch of a normal curve, illustrate the proportion of measurements that will be positive. Calculate this proportion.
(c) Suppose three independent depth measurements are taken at the point where the true depth is 2 feet. What is the probability that at
least one of these measurements will be negative?

2. The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are widely used to help predict the performance of applicants to graduate schools. The range
of possible scores on a GRE is 200 to 900. The psychology department at a university finds that the scores of its applicants on the
quantitative GRE are approximately normal with mean  = 544 and standard deviation  = 103. Find the proportion of applicants whose
score X satisfies each of the following conditions:
a) X > 650 b) X �440 c) 500  X  700 d) what is the 30th percentile score?
e) What scores are considered to be in the top 10%?
f) Suppose we select 5 applicants, find the probability that at least one has a score less than 500.

3. The college Physical Education Department offered an Advanced First Aid course last semester. The scores on the comprehensive final
exam were normally distributed, and the z scores for some of the students are shown below:
Amara, 1.10 Ben, 1.70 Cesar, – 2.00 Dora, 0.00 Ellie, –0.80 Frank, 1.60
a) Which of these students scored above the mean?
b) Which of these students scored on the mean?
c) Which of these students scored below the mean?
d) Did anybody score in the top 10%? (if yes, then who?) Explain how you decided.

4. Answer “TRUE” if the statement is always true. If the statement is not always true, replace the BOLD with words that will make the
statement true:
a) A large mean value ( ) will cause a normal curve to be tall and slender.
b) For a normal distribution, 95% of all observations fall within two standard deviations of the mean.
c) For all values greater than the mean, we will obtain a positive z-score.

5. Given the following statement: the percent of observations that are greater than z in a standard normal distribution is 8%. What z-score
make the statement true?
A) – 3.14 B) – 2.41 C) – 1.41 D) 1.41 E) 2.41 F) 3.14

6. A distribution of test scores is not symmetric. Which of the following is the best estimate of the z-score of the third quartile?
A) 0.67 B) 0.75 C) 1.00 D) 1.41
E) This z-score cannot be estimated from the information given.

7. Population P1 and P2 are normally distributed and have identical means. However, the standard deviation of P1 is twice the standard
deviation of P2. What can be said about the percentage of observations falling within one standard deviation of the mean for each
population?
A) The percentage for P1 is twice the percentage for P2.
B) The percentage for P1 is greater, but not twice as great, as the percentage for P2.
C) The percentage for P2 is twice the percentage for P1.
D) The percentage for P2 is greater, but not twice as great, as the percentage for P1.
E) The percentages are identical.

8. Lauren is enrolled in a very large college calculus class. On the first exam, the class mean was 75 and the standard deviation was 10. On
the second exam, the class mean was 70 and the standard deviation was 15. Lauren scored 85 on both exams. Assuming the scores on
each exam were approximately normally distributed, on which exam did Lauren score better relative to the rest of the class?
A) She scored much better on the first exam.
B) She scored much better on the second exam.
C) She scored about equally well on both exams.
D) It is impossible to tell because the class size is not given.
E) It is impossible to tell because the condition were not met.

9. In a certain southwestern city the air pollution index averages 62.5 during the year with a standard deviation of 18.0. Assuming that the
empirical rule is appropriate, the index falls within what interval about 95% of the time?
A) (8.5, 116.5) B) (26.5, 98.5) C) (26.5, 116.5) D) (44.5, 80.5) E) (44.5, 98.5)