Algebra II : Z-scores

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra II

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #421 : Basic Statistics

A large group of test scores is normally distributed with mean 78.2 and standard deviation 4.3. What percent of the students scored 85 or better (nearest whole percent)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 6\%\)

\(\displaystyle 5 \%\)

\(\displaystyle 8 \%\)

\(\displaystyle 7 \%\)

\(\displaystyle 4 \%\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 6\%\)

Explanation:

If the mean of a normally distributed set of scores is \(\displaystyle \mu = 78.2\) and the standard deviation is \(\displaystyle \sigma = 4.3\), then the \(\displaystyle z\)-score corresponding to a test score of \(\displaystyle X= 85\) is 

\(\displaystyle \frac{X-\mu}{\sigma} =\frac{85-78.2}{4.3} = \frac{6.8}{4.3} \approx 1.58\)

From a \(\displaystyle z\)-score table, in a normal distribution, 

\(\displaystyle P (z< 1.58) = 0.9429\)

We want the percent of students whose test score is 85 or better, so we want \(\displaystyle P (z\geq 1.58)\). This is

\(\displaystyle P (z\geq 1.58) = 1- P (z< 1.58) = 1- 0.9429 = 0.0571\)

or about 5.7 % The correct choice is 6%.

Example Question #2 : Distributions And Curves

The salaries of employees at XYZ Corporation follow a normal distribution with mean 60,000 and standard deviation 7,500. What proportion of employees earn approximately between 69,000 and 78,000?

 

Normal-distribution

Use the normal distribution table to calculate the probabilities. Round your answer to the nearest thousandth. 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0.107\)

\(\displaystyle 0.885\)

\(\displaystyle 0.992\)

\(\displaystyle 0.65\)

\(\displaystyle 0.105\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 0.107\)

Explanation:

Let X represent the salaries of employees at XYZ Corporation.

We want to determine the probability that X is between 69,000 and 78,000:

\(\displaystyle Pr(69000< X< 78000)\)

To approximate this probability, we convert 69,000 and 78,000 to standardized values (z-scores).

\(\displaystyle z= \frac{x-\mu }{\sigma }\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{69000-60000}{7500}=1.2\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{78000-60000}{7500}=2.4\)

We then want to determine the probability that z is between 1.2 and 2.4

\(\displaystyle P(1.2< z< 2.4)=P(z< 2.4)-P(z< 1.2)\)

\(\displaystyle P(1.2< z< 2.4)=0.9918-0.8849=0.107\)

The proportion of employees who earn between 69,000 and 78,000 is 0.107.

Example Question #2 : Graphing Data

On a statistics exam, the mean score was \(\displaystyle 80\) and there was a standard deviation of \(\displaystyle 7\). If a student's actual score of \(\displaystyle 92\), what is his/her z-score?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 88\)

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle 1.714\)

\(\displaystyle 11.428\)

\(\displaystyle 12\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1.714\)

Explanation:

The z-score is a measure of an actual score's distance from the mean in terms of the standard deviation. The formula is:

\(\displaystyle \large z=\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma}\)

Where \(\displaystyle \large \mu, \sigma\) are the mean and standard deviation, respectively. \(\displaystyle x\) is the actual score.

If we plug in the values we have from the original problem we have 

\(\displaystyle {z = \frac{92-80}{7}}\)

which is approximately \(\displaystyle 1.714\).

 

Example Question #1 : Z Scores

A distributor manufactures a product that has an average weight of \(\displaystyle 20\) pounds.

If the standard deviation is \(\displaystyle 2\) pounds, determine the z-score of a product that has a weight of \(\displaystyle 18\) pounds.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{1}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 1\)

\(\displaystyle 0\)

\(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle -1\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -1\)

Explanation:

The z-score can be expressed as

\(\displaystyle \frac{x-\mu }{\sigma }\)

where 

\(\displaystyle \mu= \text{average }=20\)

\(\displaystyle \sigma= \text{standard\: deviation}=2\)

\(\displaystyle x=18\)

Therefore the z-score is:

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{x-\mu }{\sigma }=\frac{18-20}{2}=\frac{-2}{2}=-1\)

Example Question #5 : Distributions And Curves

The mean grade on a science test was 79 and there was a standard deviation of 6. If your sister scored an 88, what is her z-score?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1.25\)

\(\displaystyle 2.5\)

\(\displaystyle 2.25\)

\(\displaystyle 1.5\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1.5\)

Explanation:

Use the formula for z-score:

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{x-\mu }{\sigma }\)

Where \(\displaystyle x\) is her test score, \(\displaystyle \mu\) is the mean, and \(\displaystyle \sigma\) is the standard deviation.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{88-79}{6}=1.5\)

Example Question #10 : Graphing Data

Your teacher tells you that the mean score for a test was a \(\displaystyle 70\) and that the standard deviation was \(\displaystyle 7\) for your class.

You are given that the \(\displaystyle z\)-score for your test was \(\displaystyle 2.5\) . What did you score on your test?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 84\)

\(\displaystyle 87.5\)

\(\displaystyle 56\)

\(\displaystyle 90\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 87.5\)

Explanation:

The formula for a z-score is

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma }\)

where  \(\displaystyle \mu\) = mean and \(\displaystyle \sigma\) = standard deviation and \(\displaystyle x\)=your test grade.

Plugging in your z-score, mean, and standard deviation that was originally given in the question we get the following.

\(\displaystyle 2.5=\frac{x-70}{7}\)

Now to find the grade you got on the test we will solve for \(\displaystyle x\).

\(\displaystyle 2.5=\frac{x-70}{7}\)

\(\displaystyle 2.5\cdot 7={x-70}\)

\(\displaystyle 17.5=x-70\)

\(\displaystyle x=87.5\) 

Example Question #501 : Algebra Ii

In a normal distribution, if the mean score is 8 in a gymnastics competition and the student scores a 9.3, what is the z-score if the standard deviation is 2.5?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -1.04\)

\(\displaystyle 0.85\)

\(\displaystyle 2.16\)

\(\displaystyle -0.85\)

\(\displaystyle 0.52\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 0.52\)

Explanation:

Write the formula to find the z-score.  Z-scores are defined as the number of standard deviations from the given mean.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma }\)

Substitute the values into the formula and solve for the z-score.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma } = \frac{9.3-8}{2.5} =0.52\)

Example Question #2 : Z Scores

Suppose a student scored a \(\displaystyle 65\) on a test.  The mean of the tests are \(\displaystyle 72\), and the standard deviation is \(\displaystyle 8\).  What is the student's z-score?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -0.75\)

\(\displaystyle -1.143\)

\(\displaystyle -0.875\)

\(\displaystyle -0.85\)

\(\displaystyle -2.475\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -0.875\)

Explanation:

Write the formula for z-score where \(\displaystyle x\) is the data, \(\displaystyle \mu\) is the population mean, and \(\displaystyle \sigma\) is the population standard deviation.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma}\)

Substitute the variables.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{65-72}{8} =- \frac{7}{8} = -0.875\)

The z-score is:  \(\displaystyle -0.875\) 

Example Question #3 : Z Scores

Suppose Bob's test score is 50.  Determine the z-score if the standard deviation is 3, and the mean is 75.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{2}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{75}{47}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{25}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle -7\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{25}{3}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{25}{3}\)

Explanation:

Write the formula for z-scores.  This tells how many standard deviations above the below the mean.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma}\)

Substitute the known values into the equation.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{50-75}{3} =-\frac{25}{3}\)

The z-score is:  \(\displaystyle -\frac{25}{3}\)

Example Question #4 : Z Scores

Find the z-score if the result of a test score is 6, the mean is 8, the standard deviation is 2.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -1\)

\(\displaystyle \textup{The answer is not given.}\)

\(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle -2\)

\(\displaystyle 1\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -1\)

Explanation:

Write the formula to determine the z-scores.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma}\)

Substitute all the known values into the formula to determine the z-score.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{6-8}{2}\)

Simplify this equation.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{-2}{2} = -1\)

The answer is:  \(\displaystyle -1\)

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors