Finding Probability of Low Cereal Content in Random Selection of Boxes

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the probability of finding an average cereal content of less than 18 oz in four randomly selected boxes from a production line. The cereal boxes are normally distributed with a mean of 22 oz and a standard deviation of 1.3 oz. The participant calculated a Z-score of -6.15, leading to a probability of 0.001 for the average content being below 18 oz. Clarification was provided that the mean is definitively 22 oz, not 20 oz, confirming the accuracy of the participant's calculations.

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shawnz1102
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Homework Statement


A machine fills cereal boxes at a factory. Due to an accumulation of small errors (different flakes sizes, etc.) it is thought that the amount of cereal in a box is normally distributed with mean 22 oz. for a supposedly 20 oz. box. Suppose the standard deviation of the amount filled is 1.3 oz. What is the probability that a federal regulatory selects four of these boxes at random and finds that the average content of these boxes is less than 18 oz?

The Attempt at a Solution


[PLAIN]http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/3904/49450328.jpg

From the graph, I calculated the Z score using the Z score equation for distribution of sample means.

The Z-score I got was -6.15

I then found the area from Table E which came out to be 0.4999 (Table E said any value greater than 3.09 use 0.4999. Since it's to the left of the mean, I subtracted 0.5 from the Z value (0.5-0.4999) and my answer came out to be 0.001

Can anyone please double check if I got the answer correct?

I'm a bit confused by the question when it says that it's normally distributed with a mean of 22 oz for a "supposedly 20 oz box." So is it implying that the mean is 22 or 20?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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shawnz1102 said:

Homework Statement


A machine fills cereal boxes at a factory. Due to an accumulation of small errors (different flakes sizes, etc.) it is thought that the amount of cereal in a box is normally distributed with mean 22 oz. for a supposedly 20 oz. box. Suppose the standard deviation of the amount filled is 1.3 oz. What is the probability that a federal regulatory selects four of these boxes at random and finds that the average content of these boxes is less than 18 oz?


The Attempt at a Solution


[PLAIN]http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/3904/49450328.jpg

From the graph, I calculated the Z score using the Z score equation for distribution of sample means.

The Z-score I got was -6.15

I then found the area from Table E which came out to be 0.4999 (Table E said any value greater than 3.09 use 0.4999. Since it's to the left of the mean, I subtracted 0.5 from the Z value (0.5-0.4999) and my answer came out to be 0.001

Can anyone please double check if I got the answer correct?

I'm a bit confused by the question when it says that it's normally distributed with a mean of 22 oz for a "supposedly 20 oz box." So is it implying that the mean is 22 or 20?
They are not implying, they are saying that the mean is 22.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Ahhh.. The wordings of these problems are so confusing... But i guess they're meant to throw me off...

So i guess i got the answer correct then if I used 22 for the mean?
 

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