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Ch. 6 - Normal Probability Distributions
Triola - Elementary Statistics 14th Edition
Triola14th EditionElementary StatisticsISBN: 9780137366446Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 6, Problem 6.6.15a

Smartphones Based on an LG smartphone survey, assume that 51% of adults with smartphones use them in theaters. In a separate survey of 250 adults with smartphones, it is found that 109 use them in theaters.


a. If the 51% rate is correct, find the probability of getting 109 or fewer smartphone owners who use them in theaters.

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Step 1: Identify the type of probability distribution. Since we are dealing with a fixed number of trials (250 adults), two possible outcomes (use in theaters or not), and a constant probability of success (51%), this is a binomial distribution problem.
Step 2: Define the parameters of the binomial distribution. The number of trials (n) is 250, the probability of success (p) is 0.51, and the number of successes (x) is 109.
Step 3: Convert the binomial distribution to a normal distribution for approximation. The mean (μ) and standard deviation (σ) of the binomial distribution are calculated as follows: μ = n * p and σ = sqrt(n * p * (1 - p)).
Step 4: Apply the continuity correction. Since we are finding the probability of getting 109 or fewer successes, adjust the value of x to 109.5 for the normal approximation.
Step 5: Standardize the value using the z-score formula: z = (x - μ) / σ. Then, use the standard normal distribution table or a statistical software to find the cumulative probability corresponding to the calculated z-score.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Binomial Distribution

The binomial distribution models the number of successes in a fixed number of independent Bernoulli trials, each with the same probability of success. In this context, the success is defined as an adult using their smartphone in a theater. The parameters include the number of trials (n = 250) and the probability of success (p = 0.51).
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Mean & Standard Deviation of Binomial Distribution

Normal Approximation to the Binomial

For large sample sizes, the binomial distribution can be approximated by a normal distribution. This is applicable when both np and n(1-p) are greater than 5. In this case, we can use the normal approximation to calculate the probability of observing 109 or fewer smartphone users in theaters, simplifying the calculations.
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Using the Normal Distribution to Approximate Binomial Probabilities

Cumulative Probability

Cumulative probability refers to the probability of a random variable being less than or equal to a certain value. In this scenario, we need to calculate the cumulative probability of observing 109 or fewer users in theaters, which can be found using the normal distribution's cumulative distribution function (CDF) after applying the normal approximation.
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Introduction to Probability
Related Practice
Textbook Question

Fatal Car Crashes There are about 15,000 car crashes each day in the United States, and the proportion of car crashes that are fatal is 0.00559 (based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Assume that each day, 1000 car crashes are randomly selected and the proportion of fatal car crashes is recorded.

a. What do you know about the mean of the sample proportions?

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Textbook Question

Using the Central Limit Theorem. In Exercises 5–8, assume that the amounts of weight that male college students gain during their freshman year are normally distributed with a mean of 1.2 kg and a standard deviation of 4.9 kg (based on Data Set 13 “Freshman 15” in Appendix B).


a. If 1 male college student is randomly selected, find the probability that he gains between 0.5 kg and 2.5 kg during freshman year.

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Textbook Question

Ergonomics. Exercises 9–16 involve applications to ergonomics, as described in the Chapter Problem.


Water Taxi Safety Passengers died when a water taxi sank in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Men are typically heavier than women and children, so when loading a water taxi, assume a worst-case scenario in which all passengers are men. Assume that weights of men are normally distributed with a mean of 189 lb and a standard deviation of 39 lb (based on Data Set 1 “Body Data” in Appendix B). The water taxi that sank had a stated capacity of 25 passengers, and the boat was rated for a load limit of 3500 lb.


a. Given that the water taxi that sank was rated for a load limit of 3500 lb, what is the maximum mean weight of the passengers if the boat is filled to the stated capacity of 25 passengers?

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Textbook Question

Body Temperatures Listed below are body temperatures (°F) of adult males (based on Data Set 5 “Body Temperatures” in Appendix B).


97.6 98.2 99.6 98.7 99.4 98.2 98.0 98.6 98.6


a. Find the mean. Does the result seem reasonable?

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Textbook Question

Transformations The heights (in inches) of women listed in Data Set 1 “Body Data” in Appendix B have a distribution that is approximately normal, so it appears that those heights are from a normally distributed population.


a. If 2 inches is added to each height, are the new heights also normally distributed?

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Textbook Question

Mendelian Genetics When Mendel conducted his famous genetics experiments with peas, one sample of offspring consisted of 929 peas, with 705 of them having red flowers. If we assume, as Mendel did, that under these circumstances, there is a 3/4 probability that a pea will have a red flower, we would expect that 696.75 (or about 697) of the peas would have red flowers, so the result of 705 peas with red flowers is more than expected.


a. If Mendel’s assumed probability is correct, find the probability of getting 705 or more peas with red flowers.

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