Question
Statistical methods in economics and business
Given that X is a normally distributed random variable with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 2, the probability that X is between 48 and 52 is
a) Approximately 68%
b) Approximately 95%
c) Approximately 99%
d) Can’t tell without the z-table.
2. A lab orders 100 rats a week for each of the 52 weeks in the year for experiments that the lab conducts. Suppose the mean cost of rats used in lab experiments turned out to be $13.00 per week. Interpret this value.
a) Most of the weeks resulted in rat costs of $13.00.
b) The median cost for the distribution of rat costs is $13.00.
c) The expected or average cost for all weekly rat purchases is $13.00.
d) The rat cost that occurs more often than any other is $13.00.
3. Which of the following about the normal distribution is NOT true?
a) Theoretically, the mean, median, and mode are the same.
b) About 2/3 of the observations fall within 1 standard deviation from the mean.
c) It is a discrete probability distribution.
d) Its parameters are the mean, μ, and standard deviation, σ.
4. Suppose a standard normal distributed random variable z turned out to has a value of .75, this means that
a) 25% of the time this random variable is greater than .75.
b) 22.7% of the time this random variable is greater than .75.
c) 75% of the time this random variable is greater than .75.
d) None of the above is true.
Answers
Solution)
1)
a. Approximately 68%
Given , µ = 50 and σ = 2
We know z = (x - µ) /σ
Therefore, P(48 ≤ X ≤ 52) =
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= P(-1 ≤ Z ≤ 1)
= P(Z ≤ 1)−P(Z ≤ −1)
= 0.8413 - 0.1587 (Using the areas under the standard normal curve table)
=0.6827 ~ 68%
This approximately 68% is the answer.
2)
c. The expected or average costs for all weekly rat purchases is $13.00
Step-by-step explanation:
a. This is incorrect since individual values don't interfere in the mean. For instance, if half the weeks had a cost of $12.00 and the other half had a cost of $14.00, the mean cost would still be $13.00 even though no particular week had a $13.00 cost
b. Incorrect. The median is the central value in a distribution; the median and the mean are not necessarily the same.
c. A mean value of $13.00 means that over a period of 52 weeks, the company can expect to spend $13.00 per week on rat purchases.
d. Incorrect, same as item a.
3)
c. It is a discrete probability distribution.
Step-by-step explanation:
a. Since the distribution is symmetrical, mean, median and mode coincide. Thus, Mean = Median = Mode = μ
b. By the empirical rule , we know that 2/3rd falls within 1 standard deviation from the mean.
c. This is not true because a normal distribution is a continuous probabilty distribution.
d. Every unique pair of mean,μ , and standard deviation, σ describes a different normal distribution. Hence true.
4)
b.0.226622.7% of the time this random variable is greater than .75.
Using the z- table -
If z-score is 0.75, then 0.77337 of the time the random variable lies less than 0.75. Therefore,
(1-0.77337) = 0.22663 of the time the random variable lies greater than 0.75.
48 – 50 52 – 50 PG << 2 2X 68% of the data values + !