MHB How to Solve for a Given Probability in a Standard Normal Distribution Table?

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To solve for a given probability in a standard normal distribution table, one must understand the relationship between the cumulative distribution functions. For the probability P(0<z<a) = 0.3554, it requires an inverse table look-up. This involves determining the area from negative infinity to a, which can be calculated as P(-∞<z<a) - P(-∞<z<0). By finding the corresponding value in the standard normal distribution table, the solution can be derived. The process is illustrated with an attachment for clarity.
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Question by KS, reposted from Yahoo Questions

P(0<z<a) = 0.3554 solution
help!
i have to find a

Since z is used for the variable we may assume that this is a normal distribution question, and that Z is a RV with a standard normal distribution.

In which case we have a problem asking us to do an inverse table look-up in a table of standard normal distribution. These come in two varieties one gives exactly the probability you require the area under the curve from 0 to a, the other gives the area from -infinity to a. In the latter case for you need:

##P(0<z<a)=P(-\infty<z<a) - P(-\infty< z<0) = P(-\infty< z< a) - 1/2##.

So for this type of table we look up:

##P(-\infty< z< a)=0.8554##

The way an inverse table look up is done is to look in the body of the table for the value of the probability and the value of a is then the corresponding value you would have looked up. This is shown in the attachment:

View attachment 85

CB
 

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  • InverseTable.PNG
    InverseTable.PNG
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Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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