Normally distributed probability problem

[subopolois]

Homework Statement

an exam is normally distributed with a mean of 75 and a variance of 64. students with a mark of 90 or above receive an A+
a) what percentage of students receive an A+?
b) if 12 students write the exam what is the probability 3 get A+?

Homework Equations

z-score- z=mark-mean/standard deviation
my teacher gave us a chart that gives probabilities as area under a curve for normal distributions

The Attempt at a Solution

a) since the standard deviation is the square root of the variance:
SD= 8
z-score= 90-75/8= 1.88
now using the area under the curve chart, for a z-score of 1.88 it reads 0.9699. from this i subtract 1 because i want the amount above 90 and this value is below 90, so i get:
= 1-0.9699
= 0.0301 or 3.01%

b) if 12 students write and 3 get an A+ then 9 students must get something else:
p(x=3)= 3(0.0301)/9(0.9699)= 0.0103
since the probability of getting over A+ is 0.0301 and anything else is one subtract 0.0301.



do my answers seen correct? if not can someone guide me in the right direction?

 

[vikkisut88]

The answer to part a) is correct, however, I don't really understand what calculation you've done for part b).

Personally I would just use the Choose function i.e. 12C3 * 0.0301^3 * 0.9699^9

 

[subopolois]

The answer to part a) is correct, however, I don't really understand what calculation you've done for part b).

Personally I would just use the Choose function i.e. 12C3 * 0.0301^3 * 0.9699^9

Ok, would I also put in 12C9 when multlying0.9699?. Also why areyou putting 0.0301 with an exponent also for the other0.9699?

 

[vikkisut88]

nope you just have one 12C3 - it's how you use the binomial theorem:

P(X=r) = nCr * p^r * q^(n-r) where q = 1-p :)

 

[vikkisut88]

oh and n = total so in this case 12

 

[subopolois]

oh and n = total so in this case 12

Alright! Thank you