1324 Section 7 6 Text

CHAPTER 7 Random Variables, Probability Distributions, and Statistics
Section 7.6 – Applications of the Normal Distribution

Applications Involving the Normal Distribution
In this section, we will look at applications that involve the normal distribution.
Example 1: Bags of oranges are delivered to The Produce Spot for sale. The weight of the bags
is normally distributed with mean 10.1 pounds and standard deviation 0.8 pounds. Find the
probability that the weight of a randomly selected bag of oranges is:
A. at least 10.5 pounds

B. at most 9.9 pounds
C. between 9.5 and 10.3 pounds
Solution: Notice in the given information that µ = 10.1 and σ = 0.8 . We want to be able to use
the standard normal distribution table (where µ z = 0 and σ z = 1 ), so we need to standardize the
values given in each part of the problem. Recall that the formula for the standard score, or z-
x−µ
score, is z = .
σ
A. We want to find P ( X ≥ 10.5 ) . We first find the z-score for x = 10.5 :

x−µ 10.5 − 10.1 0.4
z= = = = 0.5
σ 0.8 0.8
Therefore, P ( X ≥ 10.5 ) = P ( Z ≥ 0.5)
The standard normal table gives us P ( Z < z ) rather than P ( Z ≥ z ) . Recall from the last
section that P ( Z ≥ 0.5 ) = 1 − P ( Z < 0.5 ) . We can use the standard normal table to find
P ( Z < 0.5) :
z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
…
0.3 0.6179 0.6217 0.6255 0.6293 0.6331 0.6368 0.6406 0.6443 0.6480 0.6517
0.4 0.6554 0.6591 0.6628 0.6664 0.6700 0.6736 0.6772 0.6808 0.6844 0.6879
0.5 0.6915 0.6950 0.6985 0.7019 0.7054 0.7088 0.7123 0.7157 0.7190 0.7224
0.6 0.7257 0.7291 0.7324 0.7357 0.7389 0.7422 0.7454 0.7486 0.7517 0.7549
P ( Z ≥ 0.5 ) = 1 − P ( Z < 0.5) = 1 − 0.6915 = 0.3085
The probability that a randomly selected bag of oranges is at least 10.5 pounds is 0.3085.
522 University of Houston Department of Mathematics

SECTION 7.6 Applications of the Normal Distribution
B. We want to find P ( X ≤ 9.9 ) . We first find the z-score for x = 9.9 :

x−µ 9.9 − 10.1
z= = = − 0.25
σ 0.8
Therefore, P ( X ≤ 9.9 ) = P ( Z ≤ − 0.25)
The standard normal table gives us P ( Z < z ) . Recall from Section 7.5 that
P ( Z ≤ − 0.25) = P ( Z < − 0.25 ) ; the equal sign in the “less than or equal to” symbol
makes no difference when we are looking at the area under a continuous curve.
We can now use the standard normal table to find P ( Z ≤ − 0.25) :
z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
…
…
-0.4 0.3446 0.3409 0.3372 0.3336 0.3300 0.3264 0.3228 0.3192 0.3156 0.3121
-0.3 0.3821 0.3783 0.3745 0.3707 0.3669 0.3632 0.3594 0.3557 0.3520 0.3483
-0.2 0.4207 0.4168 0.4129 0.4090 0.4052 0.4013 0.3974 0.3936 0.3897 0.3859
-0.1 0.4602 0.4562 0.4522 0.4483 0.4443 0.4404 0.4364 0.4325 0.4286 0.4247
P ( Z ≤ − 0.25 ) = 0.4013
The probability that a randomly selected bag of oranges is at most 9.9 pounds is 0.4013.
C. We want to find P ( 9.5 < X < 10.3) .
Note that if we had wanted to include the weights of 9.5 and 10.3, the question would
have said “… between 9.5 and 10.3 pounds, inclusive.” Since we are dealing with the
area under a continuous curve, P ( 9.5 < X < 10.3) = P ( 9.5 ≤ X ≤ 10.3) and the
distinction does not make a difference in our answer.
We first find the z-scores at x = 9.5 and x = 10.3 :
x−µ 9.5 − 10.1

x = 9.5 : z= = = − 0.75
σ 0.8
x−µ 10.3 − 10.1

x = 10.3 : z= = = 0.25
σ 0.8
Therefore, P ( 9.5 < X < 10.3) = P ( − 0.75 < Z < 0.25) .
Recall from Section 7.5 that P ( −0.75 < Z < 0.25 ) = P ( Z < 0.25 ) − P ( Z < − 0.75 ) . We
can use the standard normal table to find the needed probabilities:
MATH 1324 Finite Mathematics with Applications 523

z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
0.0 0.5000 0.5040 0.5080 0.5120 0.5160 0.5199 0.5239 0.5279 0.5319 0.5359
0.1 0.5398 0.5438 0.5478 0.5517 0.5557 0.5596 0.5636 0.5675 0.5714 0.5753
0.2 0.5793 0.5832 0.5871 0.5910 0.5948 0.5987 0.6026 0.6064 0.6103 0.6141
0.3 0.6179 0.6217 0.6255 0.6293 0.6331 0.6368 0.6406 0.6443 0.6480 0.6517
z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
…
…
-0.8 0.2119 0.2090 0.2061 0.2033 0.2005 0.1977 0.1949 0.1922 0.1894 0.1867
-0.7 0.2420 0.2389 0.2358 0.2327 0.2296 0.2266 0.2236 0.2206 0.2177 0.2148
-0.6 0.2743 0.2709 0.2676 0.2643 0.2611 0.2578 0.2546 0.2514 0.2483 0.2451
P ( −0.75 < Z < 0.25 ) = P ( Z < 0.25 ) − P ( Z < − 0.75 )

= 0.5987 − 0.2266
= 0.3721
The probability that a randomly selected bag of oranges weighs between 9.5 pounds and
10.3 pounds is 0.3721.
***
Example 2: The weekly wages earned by women employed by Lake City are normally
distributed with a mean of $1200 per week and a standard deviation of $125. Find the probability
that a randomly selected female Lake City employee makes more than $1500 per week.
Solution: We want to find P ( X > 1500 ) . The given information tells us that µ = 1200 and
σ = 125 . Since wages are normally distributed, we can standardize the information given in the
problem and then use the standard normal distribution table to answer the question.
We begin by finding the z-score for x = 1500 :
x−µ 1500 − 1200

z= = = 2.4
σ 125
Therefore, P ( X > 1500 ) = P ( Z > 2.4 ) .
Since the values in the standard normal table represent P ( Z < z ) rather than P ( Z > z ) , we use
the fact that P ( Z > 2.4 ) = 1 − P ( Z < 2.4 ) .
We can now use the standard normal table to find the needed probability:

z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
…
…
2.3 0.9893 0.9896 0.9898 0.9901 0.9904 0.9906 0.9909 0.9911 0.9913 0.9916
2.4 0.9918 0.9920 0.9922 0.9925 0.9927 0.9929 0.9931 0.9932 0.9934 0.9936
2.5 0.9938 0.9940 0.9941 0.9943 0.9945 0.9946 0.9948 0.9949 0.9951 0.9952
P ( Z > 2.4 ) = 1 − P( Z < 2.4) = 1 − 0.9918 = 0.0082
The probability that a randomly selected female Lake City employee makes more than $1500 per
week is 0.0082.
***
Approximating a Binomial Distribution with a Normal Distribution

In Section 7.4, we studied the binomial distribution. Two binomial experiments are listed below
as a brief review:
A die is rolled seven times, noting each time whether or not a 2 is obtained. Find the
probability of rolling a 2 on exactly five of the rolls.
A fair coin is tossed ten times, noting each time whether or not a head is obtained. Find
the probability of obtaining at least eight heads.
When finding the probability that a random variable takes on a single value, we used the formula
5 2
P ( X = x ) = n Cx ⋅ p x q n − x . In the die example above, P ( X = 5 ) = 7 C5 ( 61 ) ( 56 ) .
For small values of n, we can do a few computations to compute probabilities like the coin
problem above:
P ( X ≥ 8 ) = P ( X = 8 ) + P ( X = 9 ) + P ( X = 10 )
8 2 9 1 10 0
.
= 10 C8 ( 0.5) ( 0.5 ) + 10 C9 ( 0.5) ( 0.5) + 10 C10 ( 0.5) ( 0.5)
Suppose that the coin experiment above instead involved 40 tosses, and that we wanted to find
P ( X ≥ 20 ) . We could find this probability directly by computing
P ( X = 20 ) + P ( X = 21) + ... + P ( X = 39 ) + P ( X = 40 ) . This would be quite time-consuming
and tedious. We need a simpler way to handle probabilities for large values of n. Fortunately, we
can approximate the binomial distribution with the normal distribution when an experiment
includes a large number of trials.
Consider the histogram associated with a binomial distribution with n = 15 , p = 0.5 , and
q = 0.5 . We would typically draw a bar graph for a binomial distribution (with spaces between
the bars) since it is a discrete random variable. Instead, we will graph this as if it were a

continuous distribution, in the following manner: Each rectangle is drawn with a width of 1, and
with the base of rectangle centered around the associated x-value. The rectangle representing
P ( X = 4 ) , for example, is drawn between x = 3.5 and x = 4.5 , the rectangle representing
P ( X = 5 ) is drawn between x = 4.5 and x = 5.5 , etc. (Note that the probabilities at X = 0 ,
X = 1 , X = 14 , and X = 15 are so small that the bars are barely discernible on the diagram.)
We can compute the mean and standard deviation of this binomial experiment, using the
formulas from Section 7.4:
µ = np = 15 ( 0.5 ) = 7.5
σ = npq = 15 ( 0.5 )( 0.5 ) ≈ 1.9364
Now let us draw the graph of the normal distribution with µ = 7.5 and σ = 1.9364 (using the
formula for the normal distribution from Section 7.5) and superimpose it over the histogram of
the binomial distribution.

We can see that the normal distribution traces the midpoints of the rectangles that make up the
bars of the histogram. This tells us that we can use a normal distribution to approximate a
binomial distribution. When p = 0.5 , the binomial distribution is symmetric, as shown above.
For best results, we use a normal distribution to approximate a binomial distribution when n is
large and p is not close to either 0 or 1. Even if p is near 0 or 1, the normal distribution can still
be used to approximate a binomial distribution as long as n is sufficiently large.
Rule of Thumb for Normal Approximations

of the Binomial Distribution
The normal distribution can be used to approximate the binomial distribution

provided that
np ≥ 5 and nq ≥ 5
where
n = the number of trials
p = the probability of success
q = 1 − p = the probability of failure
(Some statisticians use a stricter rule of thumb, with a higher value for np and
nq , but the requirement above is sufficient for this course.)
In this text, we will apply the above rule of thumb to make sure that it is appropriate to use the
normal distribution in a given situation. However, we are concerned primarily with learning to
apply the normal distribution to binomial distributions, rather than focusing on when the
approximation is most accurate.
Since we are modeling a discrete random variable with a continuous random variable, we need to
make a correction for continuity in our calculations. When we computed probabilities
involving binomial distributions in Section 7.4, we gave no thought to the area under a curve; we
instead graphed binomial distributions as separate bars (with space in between), and the height of
each bar was used to compute probabilities. Since we are now looking at the binomial
distribution as if it were a continuous variable, we compute probabilities using the area under the
curve, which requires adjustments to our computations.
The continuous nature of a histogram changes how we compute probabilities with the binomial
distribution. Suppose that we want to find P ( X ≥ 10 ) for the binomial distribution described

above. This means that we need to include the entire rectangle where x = 10 , along with all
rectangles to its right. A shaded histogram is shown below.
Because of the way that the rectangles are drawn, our shaded area begins at x = 9.5 rather than at
x = 10 . When modeling this situation with a continuous distribution, we therefore need to
compute P ( X > 9.5 ) . Note that we could alternatively compute P ( X ≥ 9.5) , since the inclusion
of vertical line at x = 9.5 does not change the shaded area.
Once we make that correction, we can find the z-score associated with x = 9.5 and then use the
standard normal distribution table to approximate the desired probability.
Recall that µ = 7.5 and σ = 1.9364 .
When x = 9.5 , the associated z-score is:
x−µ 9.5 − 7.5

z= = = 1.03
σ 1.9364
(The z-score is rounded to the nearest hundredth, to match the precision of the headings in our
standard normal table.)
Therefore, P ( X > 9.5 ) = P ( Z > 1.03) = 1 − P ( Z < 1.03) .
We find P ( Z < 1.03) in the standard normal table and then compute the needed probability.
z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
…
0.9 0.8159 0.8186 0.8212 0.8238 0.8264 0.8289 0.8315 0.8340 0.8365 0.8389
1.0 0.8413 0.8438 0.8461 0.8485 0.8508 0.8531 0.8554 0.8577 0.8599 0.8621
1.1 0.8643 0.8665 0.8686 0.8708 0.8729 0.8749 0.8770 0.8790 0.8810 0.8830

P ( X > 9.5 ) = P ( Z > 1.03 )

= 1 − P ( Z < 1.03)
= 1 − 0.8485
= 0.1515
Using the standard normal distribution to approximate the binomial distribution, we have found
that P ( X ≥ 10 ) ≈ 0.1515 .
For comparison, we will compute P ( X ≥ 10 ) directly, so that we can see how much the exact
answer differs from our approximation above. To the nearest ten-thousandth:
P ( X ≥ 10 ) = P ( X = 10 ) + P ( X = 11) + P ( X = 12 ) + P ( X = 13) + P ( X = 14 ) + P ( X = 15 )
10 5 11 4 12 3 13 2
= 15 C10 ⋅ ( 0.5 ) ( 0.5 ) + 15 C11 ⋅ ( 0.5) ( 0.5 ) + 15 C12 ⋅ ( 0.5) ( 0.5) + 15 C13 ⋅ ( 0.5 ) ( 0.5)
14 1 15 0
+ 15 C14 ⋅ ( 0.5 ) ( 0.5 ) + 15 C15 ⋅ ( 0.5 ) ( 0.5 )
= 0.1509
Using the normal approximation

to this binomial distribution, we
found that P ( X ≥ 10 ) ≈ 0.1515 .
Computing the binomial

probability directly (using
combinations), we found that
P ( X ≥ 10 ) = 0.1509 .
Notice that the approximation and the exact answer only differ by 0.0006.
Suppose that we want to approximate P ( X ≤ 8 ) using a normal distribution. We want to include

the entire rectangle where x = 8 , along with all rectangles to its left.

We can see from the diagram that when modeling this with a continuous distribution, we need to
compute P ( X < 8.5 ) . We could alternatively compute P ( X ≤ 8.5 ) , since the inclusion of the
vertical line at x = 8.5 does not affect the shaded area.
Once we make that correction, we can find the z-score associated with x = 8.5 and then use the
standard normal distribution table to approximate the desired probability. Recall that µ = 7.5 and
σ = 1.9364 .
When x = 8.5 , the associated z-score (rounded to the nearest hundredth) is

x − µ 8.5 − 7.5
z= = = 0.52 .
σ 1.9364
Therefore, P ( X < 8.5) = P ( Z < 0.52 ) . We can use the standard normal table to find the needed
probability:
z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
…
…
0.3 0.6179 0.6217 0.6255 0.6293 0.6331 0.6368 0.6406 0.6443 0.6480 0.6517
0.4 0.6554 0.6591 0.6628 0.6664 0.6700 0.6736 0.6772 0.6808 0.6844 0.6879
0.5 0.6915 0.6950 0.6985 0.7019 0.7054 0.7088 0.7123 0.7157 0.7190 0.7224
0.6 0.7257 0.7291 0.7324 0.7357 0.7389 0.7422 0.7454 0.7486 0.7517 0.7549
P ( Z < 0.52 ) = 0.6985
Using the standard normal distribution to approximate the binomial distribution, we have found
that P ( X ≤ 8 ) ≈ 0.6985 .
Without performing the computations, let us consider how we would set up the following
problems in order to use a normal distribution to approximate the above binomial experiment.

Binomial
Correction for Continuity Histogram
Probability
P ( X = 6) P ( 5.5 < X < 6.5 )

Include the entire rectangle
centered at x = 6 .
P ( X > 9) P ( X > 9.5 )

centered at x = 10 along with
all rectangles to its right.
P ( X ≥ 9) P ( X > 8.5)
all rectangles to its right.
P ( X < 5) P ( X < 4.5)

all rectangles to its left.
P ( X ≤ 5) P ( X < 5.5)
Include the rectangle
all rectangles to its left.
Notice in the left column above that P ( X > 9 ) ≠ P ( X ≥ 9 ) and P ( X < 5 ) ≠ P ( X ≤ 5) ; when
we are working with a binomial distribution, the presence of the equal sign in the inequality
determines whether or not another rectangle will be included in the area. When finding
probabilities for continuous distributions, on the other hand (as in Section 7.5 and in the middle
column above), it does not matter if we use > or ≥ , or alternatively < or ≤ , since it only affects
whether or not a vertical line is dotted or solid when we are finding the area under a curve.
When determining the correction for continuity, it is not practical or necessary to draw the entire
histogram, and would be incredibly tedious to do so for large values of n. We can instead draw
just one or two rectangles in order to convince ourselves of the correct interval (without regard to
the scale or the position of the rectangle under the normal curve). Suppose that a binomial
experiment is performed where n = 1000 . Some probability examples are shown below.
Remember that the width of each rectangle is 1, so the vertical sides of each rectangle are 0.5
units away from the center of its base.

Binomial Correction
Sketch
Probability for Continuity
P ( X = 230 ) P ( 229.5 < X < 230.5)
P ( X > 230 ) P ( X > 230.5 )
P ( X ≥ 230 ) P ( X > 229.5 )
P ( X < 230 ) P ( X < 229.5)
P ( X ≤ 230 ) P ( X < 230.5)
It is best to be able to visualize or sketch a portion of the histogram to determine the correction
for continuity (rather than memorizing correction formulas), but a generalization of the above
equations can also be found below. Assume that k is a whole number less than or equal to the
number of trials.

Binomial Probability Correction for Continuity

P( X = k ) P ( k − 0.5 < X < k + 0.5 )
P(X > k) P ( X > k + 0.5 )
P(X ≥ k) P ( X > k − 0.5)
P(X < k) P ( X < k − 0.5 )
P(X ≤ k) P ( X < k + 0.5)
Example 3: Suppose that a fair coin is tossed 150 times and the side that lands upwards is noted.
Find the probability that the coin lands on heads:
A. at least 90 times
B. fewer than 80 times
C. between 65 and 85 times, inclusive
Solution: Let X represent the number of times the coin lands on heads. This is a binomial
experiment where n = 150 , p = 0.5 , and q = 0.5 .
We first use our rule of thumb to determine whether or not a normal distribution can be used to
approximate this binomial distribution. Since np = 150 ( 0.5 ) = 75 and nq = 150 ( 0.5 ) = 75 , this
experiment satisfies the criteria that np ≥ 5 and nq ≥ 5 .
The mean and standard deviation of this binomial experiment are as follows:
µ = np = 150 ( 0.5) = 75 σ = npq = 150 ( 0.5)( 0.5) ≈ 6.1237
A. We want to find P ( X ≥ 90 ) , the probability that the coin lands on heads at least 90
times. A rough sketch is shown below so that we can make the appropriate correction for
continuity. We want to include the entire rectangle where x = 90 , along with all
rectangles to its right.
Remember that each rectangle has a width of 1. When modeling this problem with a
normal distribution, we need to compute P ( X > 89.5) .

89.5 − 75
x−µ
When x = 89.5 , the associated z-score is z = = = 2.37 . (The z-score is
σ 6.1237
rounded to the nearest hundredth, to match the precision of the headings in our standard
normal table.)
Therefore, P ( X > 89.5) = P ( Z > 2.37 ) = 1 − P ( Z < 2.37 ) .
We find P ( Z < 2.37 ) in the standard normal table and then compute the needed
probability.
z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
…
…
2.1 0.9821 0.9826 0.9830 0.9834 0.9838 0.9842 0.9846 0.9850 0.9854 0.9857
2.2 0.9861 0.9864 0.9868 0.9871 0.9875 0.9878 0.9881 0.9884 0.9887 0.9890
2.3 0.9893 0.9896 0.9898 0.9901 0.9904 0.9906 0.9909 0.9911 0.9913 0.9916
2.4 0.9918 0.9920 0.9922 0.9925 0.9927 0.9929 0.9931 0.9932 0.9934 0.9936
P ( Z > 2.37 ) = 1 − P ( Z < 2.37 )

= 1 − 0.9911
= 0.0089
Using the standard normal distribution to approximate the binomial distribution, we have
found that P ( X ≥ 90 ) ≈ 0.0089 .
Therefore, the probability that coin lands on heads at least 90 times is approximately
0.0089.
B. We want to find P ( X < 80 ) , the probability that the coin lands on heads fewer than 80
times. A rough sketch is shown below so that we can make the appropriate correction for
continuity. In this case, we do not want to include the rectangle where x = 80 , but we do
want to include all rectangles to its left.
normal distribution, we need to compute P ( X < 79.5 ) .

x−µ 79.5 − 75
When x = 79.5 , the associated z-score is z = = = 0.73 .
σ 6.1237
Therefore, P ( X < 79.5 ) = P ( Z < 0.73) .
We can use the standard normal table to find the needed probability:
z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
…
…
0.5 0.6915 0.6950 0.6985 0.7019 0.7054 0.7088 0.7123 0.7157 0.7190 0.7224
0.6 0.7257 0.7291 0.7324 0.7357 0.7389 0.7422 0.7454 0.7486 0.7517 0.7549
0.7 0.7580 0.7611 0.7642 0.7673 0.7704 0.7734 0.7764 0.7794 0.7823 0.7852
0.8 0.7881 0.7910 0.7939 0.7967 0.7995 0.8023 0.8051 0.8078 0.8106 0.8133
P ( Z < 0.73) = 0.7673
found that P ( X < 80 ) ≈ 0.7673 .
Therefore, the probability that the coin lands on heads fewer than 80 times is
approximately 0.7673.
C. We want to find P ( 65 ≤ X ≤ 85) , the probability that the coin lands on heads between
65 and 85 times, inclusive. A rough sketch is shown below so that we can make the
appropriate correction for continuity. In this case, we want to include the rectangle at
x = 65 as well as the rectangle at x = 85 , as well as all rectangles in between. (Since we
are only concerned with finding the correct interval, we are not concerned in our sketch
with the height of the rectangles or their placement within the normal curve.)
normal distribution, we need to compute P ( 64.5 < X < 85.5) .
x−µ 64.5 − 75
When x = 64.5 , the associated z-score is z = = = −1.71 .
σ 6.1237

x−µ 85.5 − 75
σ 6.1237
Therefore, P ( 64.5 < X < 85.5) = P ( −1.71 < Z < 1.71) = P ( Z < 1.71) − P ( Z < − 1.71) .
We can use the standard normal table to find the needed probabilities.
z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
…
…
1.5 0.9332 0.9345 0.9357 0.9370 0.9382 0.9394 0.9406 0.9418 0.9429 0.9441
1.6 0.9452 0.9463 0.9474 0.9484 0.9495 0.9505 0.9515 0.9525 0.9535 0.9545
1.7 0.9554 0.9564 0.9573 0.9582 0.9591 0.9599 0.9608 0.9616 0.9625 0.9633
1.8 0.9641 0.9649 0.9656 0.9664 0.9671 0.9678 0.9686 0.9693 0.9699 0.9706
z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
…
…
-1.8 0.0359 0.0351 0.0344 0.0336 0.0329 0.0322 0.0314 0.0307 0.0301 0.0294
-1.7 0.0446 0.0436 0.0427 0.0418 0.0409 0.0401 0.0392 0.0384 0.0375 0.0367
-1.6 0.0548 0.0537 0.0526 0.0516 0.0505 0.0495 0.0485 0.0475 0.0465 0.0455
P ( −1.71 < Z < 1.71) = P ( Z < 1.71) − P ( Z < − 1.71)

= 0.9564 − 0.0436
= 0.9128
found that P ( 65 ≤ X ≤ 85 ) ≈ 0.9128 .
Therefore, the probability that the coin lands on heads between 65 and 85 times,
inclusive, is approximately 0.9128.
***
Example 4: A manufacturer finds that 3.2% of the products made in his factory are defective.
Suppose that a customer takes a shipment of 500 units from the factory.
A. What is the probability more than 10 of the items in the shipment are defective?
B. What is the probability that at most 18 of the items in the shipment are defective?
C. What is the probability that at least 12 of the items in the shipment are defective?
D. What is the probability that fewer than 20 of the items in the shipment are defective?
E. What is the probability that between 18 and 22 of the items in the shipment are defective?

Solution: Let X denote the number of items in the shipment that are defective. In this binomial
experiment, n = 500 , p = 0.032 , and q = 1 − 0.032 = 0.968 .
We first use our rule of thumb to determine whether or not a normal distribution can be used to
approximate this binomial distribution. Since np = 500 ( 0.032 ) = 16 and nq = 500 ( 0.968) = 484 ,
this experiment satisfies the criteria that np ≥ 5 and nq ≥ 5 .
The mean and standard deviation of this binomial experiment are as follows:
µ = np = 500 ( 0.032 ) = 16 σ = npq = 500 ( 0.032 )( 0.968 ) ≈ 3.9355
A. We want to find P ( X > 10 ) , the probability that more than 10 items are defective. A
rough sketch is shown below so that we can make the appropriate correction for
continuity. In this case, we do not want to include the rectangle where x = 10 , but we do
want to include all rectangles to its right.
x−µ 10.5 − 16
σ 3.9355
Therefore, P ( X > 10.5 ) = P ( Z > −1.40 ) = 1 − P ( Z < − 1.40 ) .
We find P ( Z < − 1.40 ) in the standard normal table and then compute the needed
probability.
z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
…
-1.6 0.0548 0.0537 0.0526 0.0516 0.0505 0.0495 0.0485 0.0475 0.0465 0.0455
-1.5 0.0668 0.0655 0.0643 0.0630 0.0618 0.0606 0.0594 0.0582 0.0571 0.0559
-1.4 0.0808 0.0793 0.0778 0.0764 0.0749 0.0735 0.0721 0.0708 0.0694 0.0681
-1.3 0.0968 0.0951 0.0934 0.0918 0.0901 0.0885 0.0869 0.0853 0.0838 0.0823

P ( Z > −1.40 ) = 1 − P ( Z < − 1.40 )

= 1 − 0.0808
= 0.9192
found that P ( X > 10 ) ≈ 0.9192 .
Therefore, the probability that more than 10 of the items are defective is approximately
0.9192.
B. We want to find P ( X ≤ 18 ) , the probability that at most 18 of the items in the shipment
are defective. A rough sketch is shown below so that we can make the appropriate
correction for continuity. We want to include the entire rectangle where x = 18 , along
with all rectangles to its left.
x−µ 18.5 − 16
When x = 18.5 , the associated z-score is z = = = 0.64
σ 3.9355
Therefore, P ( X < 18.5 ) = P ( Z < 0.64 ) .
z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
…
0.5 0.6915 0.6950 0.6985 0.7019 0.7054 0.7088 0.7123 0.7157 0.7190 0.7224
0.6 0.7257 0.7291 0.7324 0.7357 0.7389 0.7422 0.7454 0.7486 0.7517 0.7549
0.7 0.7580 0.7611 0.7642 0.7673 0.7704 0.7734 0.7764 0.7794 0.7823 0.7852
P ( Z < 0.64 ) = 0.7389
found that P ( X ≤ 18 ) ≈ 0.7389 .

Therefore, the probability that at most 18 items are defective is approximately 0.7389.
C. We want to find P ( X ≥ 12 ) , the probability that at least 12 of the items in the shipment
are defective. A rough sketch is shown below so that we can make the appropriate
correction for continuity. We want to include the entire rectangle where x = 12 , along
with all rectangles to its right.
x−µ 11.5 − 16
σ 3.9355
Therefore, P ( X > 11.5 ) = P ( Z > −1.14 ) = 1 − P ( Z < − 1.14 ) .
We find P ( Z < − 1.14 ) in the standard normal table and then compute the needed
probability.
z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
…
…
-1.2 0.1151 0.1131 0.1112 0.1093 0.1075 0.1056 0.1038 0.1020 0.1003 0.0985
-1.1 0.1357 0.1335 0.1314 0.1292 0.1271 0.1251 0.1230 0.1210 0.1190 0.1170
-1.0 0.1587 0.1562 0.1539 0.1515 0.1492 0.1469 0.1446 0.1423 0.1401 0.1379
P ( Z > −1.14 ) = 1 − P ( Z < − 1.14 )

= 1 − 0.1271
= 0.8729
found that P ( X ≥ 12 ) ≈ 0.8729 .
Therefore, the probability that at least 12 of the items are defective is approximately
0.8729.

D. We want to find P ( X < 20 ) , the probability that fewer than 20 of the items in the
shipment are defective. A rough sketch is shown below so that we can make the
appropriate correction for continuity. In this case, we do not want to include the rectangle
where x = 20 , but we do want to include all rectangles to its left.
x−µ 19.5 − 16
σ 3.9355
Therefore, P ( X < 19.5 ) = P ( Z < 0.89 ) .
z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
…
…
0.7 0.7580 0.7611 0.7642 0.7673 0.7704 0.7734 0.7764 0.7794 0.7823 0.7852
0.8 0.7881 0.7910 0.7939 0.7967 0.7995 0.8023 0.8051 0.8078 0.8106 0.8133
0.9 0.8159 0.8186 0.8212 0.8238 0.8264 0.8289 0.8315 0.8340 0.8365 0.8389
P ( Z < 0.89 ) = 0.8133
found that P ( X < 20 ) ≈ 0.8133 .
Therefore, the probability that fewer than 20 items are defective is approximately 0.8133.
E. We want to find the probability that between 18 and 22 of the items in the shipment are
defective. We assume that the numbers 18 and 22 are not included. (If we wanted to
include them, we would say, “between 18 and 22, inclusive”.) We therefore want to find
P (18 < X < 22 ) , A rough sketch is shown below so that we can make the appropriate
correction for continuity. The rectangles at x = 18 and x = 22 are shown below, without
regard to their correct height or their placement within the normal curve. We do not want
to include these two rectangles in our calculations, but we want to shade all rectangles in
between.
normal distribution, we need to compute P (18.5 < X < 21.5 ) .
x−µ 18.5 − 16
σ 3.9355
x−µ 21.5 − 16
When x = 21.5 , the associated z-score is z = = = 1.40
σ 3.9355
Therefore, P (18.5 < X < 21.5 ) = P ( 0.64 < Z < 1.40 ) = P ( Z < 1.40 ) − P ( Z < 0.64 ) .
We can use the standard normal table to find the needed probabilities.
z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
…
…
1.3 0.9032 0.9049 0.9066 0.9082 0.9099 0.9115 0.9131 0.9147 0.9162 0.9177
1.4 0.9192 0.9207 0.9222 0.9236 0.9251 0.9265 0.9279 0.9292 0.9306 0.9319
1.5 0.9332 0.9345 0.9357 0.9370 0.9382 0.9394 0.9406 0.9418 0.9429 0.9441
z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
…
…
0.5 0.6915 0.6950 0.6985 0.7019 0.7054 0.7088 0.7123 0.7157 0.7190 0.7224
0.6 0.7257 0.7291 0.7324 0.7357 0.7389 0.7422 0.7454 0.7486 0.7517 0.7549
0.7 0.7580 0.7611 0.7642 0.7673 0.7704 0.7734 0.7764 0.7794 0.7823 0.7852
P ( 0.64 < Z < 1.40 ) = P ( Z < 1.40 ) − P ( Z < 0.64 )

= 0.9192 − 0.7389
= 0.1803
found that P (18 < X < 22 ) ≈ 0.1803 .
Therefore, the probability that between 18 and 22 items are defective is approximately
0.1803.
***

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CHAPTER 7 Random Variables, Probability Distributions, and Statistics

Section 7.6 – Applications of the Normal Distribution

A. at least 10.5 pounds

A. We want to find P ( X ≥ 10.5 ) . We first find the z-score for x = 10.5 :

Therefore, P ( X ≥ 10.5 ) = P ( Z ≥ 0.5)

P ( Z ≥ 0.5 ) = 1 − P ( Z < 0.5) = 1 − 0.6915 = 0.3085

522 University of Houston Department of Mathematics

B. We want to find P ( X ≤ 9.9 ) . We first find the z-score for x = 9.9 :

Therefore, P ( X ≤ 9.9 ) = P ( Z ≤ − 0.25)

We can now use the standard normal table to find P ( Z ≤ − 0.25) :

C. We want to find P ( 9.5 < X < 10.3) .

We first find the z-scores at x = 9.5 and x = 10.3 :

x−µ 9.5 − 10.1

x−µ 10.3 − 10.1

Therefore, P ( 9.5 < X < 10.3) = P ( − 0.75 < Z < 0.25) .

MATH 1324 Finite Mathematics with Applications 523

P ( −0.75 < Z < 0.25 ) = P ( Z < 0.25 ) − P ( Z < − 0.75 )

We begin by finding the z-score for x = 1500 :

x−µ 1500 − 1200

Therefore, P ( X > 1500 ) = P ( Z > 2.4 ) .

524 University of Houston Department of Mathematics

P ( Z > 2.4 ) = 1 − P( Z < 2.4) = 1 − 0.9918 = 0.0082

Approximating a Binomial Distribution with a Normal Distribution

MATH 1324 Finite Mathematics with Applications 525

526 University of Houston Department of Mathematics

Rule of Thumb for Normal Approximations

The normal distribution can be used to approximate the binomial distribution

MATH 1324 Finite Mathematics with Applications 527

Recall that µ = 7.5 and σ = 1.9364 .

When x = 9.5 , the associated z-score is:

x−µ 9.5 − 7.5

Therefore, P ( X > 9.5 ) = P ( Z > 1.03) = 1 − P ( Z < 1.03) .

528 University of Houston Department of Mathematics

P ( X > 9.5 ) = P ( Z > 1.03 )

Using the normal approximation

Computing the binomial

Suppose that we want to approximate P ( X ≤ 8 ) using a normal distribution. We want to include

MATH 1324 Finite Mathematics with Applications 529

When x = 8.5 , the associated z-score (rounded to the nearest hundredth) is

P ( Z < 0.52 ) = 0.6985

530 University of Houston Department of Mathematics

P ( X = 6) P ( 5.5 < X < 6.5 )

P ( X > 9) P ( X > 9.5 )

P ( X < 5) P ( X < 4.5)

MATH 1324 Finite Mathematics with Applications 531

P ( X = 230 ) P ( 229.5 < X < 230.5)

P ( X > 230 ) P ( X > 230.5 )

P ( X ≥ 230 ) P ( X > 229.5 )

P ( X < 230 ) P ( X < 229.5)

P ( X ≤ 230 ) P ( X < 230.5)

532 University of Houston Department of Mathematics

Binomial Probability Correction for Continuity

µ = np = 150 ( 0.5) = 75 σ = npq = 150 ( 0.5)( 0.5) ≈ 6.1237

MATH 1324 Finite Mathematics with Applications 533

Therefore, P ( X > 89.5) = P ( Z > 2.37 ) = 1 − P ( Z < 2.37 ) .

P ( Z > 2.37 ) = 1 − P ( Z < 2.37 )

534 University of Houston Department of Mathematics

Therefore, P ( X < 79.5 ) = P ( Z < 0.73) .