Questions

ADVANCED MATHEMATICS
  Statistics (Adv), S3 Random Variables (Adv) 1.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2017 HSC 13 MC
   Normal Distribution (Y12) The heights of Year 12 girls are normally distributed with a mean of 165 cm and a standard deviation
of 5.5 cm.
Teacher: Michael Boulus
Exam Equivalent Time: 63 minutes (based on allocation of 1.5 minutes per mark) What is the -score for a height of 154 cm?
A.    
B.    
C.    
D.    

2.  Statistics, 2ADV S3 SM-Bank 8 MC

The heights of females living in a small country town are normally distributed:
16% of the females are more than 160 cm tall.
2.5% of the females are less than 115 cm tall.
HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTION
S3 Random Variables has contributed a significant 10.7% per new syllabus Advanced exam since it The mean and the standard deviation of this female population, in centimetres, are closest to
was introduced in 2020.
A. mean = 135               standard deviation = 15
The topic is split into two sub-topics for the purposes of analysis: 1-Normal Distribution (6.0%) and 2-
B. mean = 135               standard deviation = 25
Probability Density Functions (4.7%).
C. mean = 145               standard deviation = 15
This analysis looks at Normal Distribution.
D. mean = 145               standard deviation = 20
HSC ANALYSIS - What to expect and common pitfalls
Normal Distribution (6.0%) has been examined in both multiple choice and longer answer sections in 3.  Statistics, STD2 S5 SM-Bank 4 MC
new syllabus exams. It has the combined characteristics of high mark allocations and low mean
marks that make it a critical revision area. The length of a type of ant is approximately normally distributed with a mean of 4.8 mm and a
standard deviation of 1.2 mm.
The most common question type deals with -score intervals that have featured in longer answer
questions in every new syllabus exam to date. We highly recommend a careful review of A standardised ant length of    corresponds to an actual ant length of
the challenging -score tables in 2021 Q22. A.   
The Advanced syllabus extends the Std2 syllabus to calculations involving the normal distribution B.   
probability density function. This is important as the syllabus explicitly mentions this in conjunction
with the Trapezoidal Rule. Please review S3 EQ-Bank 2 and 17 to address this area. C.   

Marker's Comments of note: Graphically representing z-scores on a curve to calculate percentages D.   

has been specifically mentioned as a feature of the "more successful" responses in past HSC exams.
Heed this advice by including a quick default sketch whenever possible and minimise errors!
4.  Statistics, STD2 S5 SM-Bank 1 MC 6.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2016 HSC 13 MC
The head circumference (in cm) of a population of infant boys is normally distributed with a mean of The speed limit outside a school is 40 km/h. Year 11 students measured the speed of passing
49.5 cm and a standard deviation of 1.5 cm. vehicles over a period of time. They found the set of data to be normally distributed with a mean
speed of 36 km/h and a standard deviation of 2 km/h.
Four hundred of these boys are selected at random and each boy’s head circumference is measured.
What percentage of the vehicles passed the school at a speed greater than 40 km/h?
The number of these boys with a head circumference of less than 48.0 cm is closest to 
(A)   
(A)       
(B)   
(B)     
(C)   
(C)     
(D)   
(D)   

7.  Statistics, 2ADV S3 2020 HSC 3 MC

5.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2010 HSC 4 MC
Which of the following frequency histograms shows data that could be normally distributed?
  RAP Data - Bottom 12%:  School result (60%) was 14% below state average (74%)
  John recently did a class test in each of three subjects. The class scores on each test were normally
distributed.
The table shows the subjects and John's scores as well as the mean and standard deviation of the
class scores on each test.
 

Subject John's score Mean Standard deviation

French 82 70 8
Commerce 80 65 5
Music 74 50 12

 
Relative to the rest of class, which row of the table below shows John's strongest subject and his
weakest subject?
 

Strongest subject Weakest subject

A. Commerce French
B. French Music
  C. Music French
D. Commerce Music
8.  Statistics, 2ADV S3 2020 HSC 9 MC 10.  Statistics, STD2 S5 SM-Bank 3 MC
  RAP Data - Bottom 10%:  School result (40%) was 15% below state average (55%) The time, in hours, that each student spent sleeping on a school night was recorded for
secondary-school students. The distribution of these times was found to be approximately normal
Suppose the weight of melons is normally distributed with a mean of and a standard deviation of with a mean of 7.4 hours and a standard deviation of 0.7 hours.
.
How many students would you expect to spend more than 8.1 hours sleeping on a school night?
A melon has a weight below the lower quartile of the distribution but NOT in the bottom 10% of the
You may assume for normally distributed data that:
distribution.
of scores have   -scores between   and
Which of the following most accurately represents the region in which the weight of this melon lies?
  of scores have   -scores between   and

A. B. of scores have   -scores between   and .

A.  
B.  
C. 
D. 
C. D.

11.  Statistics, STD2 S5 SM-Bank 2 MC

The pulse rates of a large group of 18-year-old students are approximately normally distributed with
a mean of 75 beats/minute and a standard deviation of 11 beats/minute. 
The percentage of 18-year-old students with pulse rates less than 53 beats/minute or greater than 86
beats/minute is closest to
(A)       
9.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2021 HSC 8 MC
(B)       
On a test, Zac's mark corresponded to a -score of 2. The test scores had a mean of 63 and a (C)     
standard deviation of 8.
(D)     
What was Zac's actual mark on the test?
A. 65
12.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2006 HSC 17 MC
B. 67
In a normally distributed set of scores, the mean is 23 and the standard deviation is 5.
C. 73
Approximately what percentage of the scores will lie between 18 and 33?
D. 79
(A) 
(B) 
(C) 
(D) 
13.  Statistics, STD2 S1 2006 HSC 8 MC 15.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2015 HSC 20 MC
Which of these graphs best represents positively skewed data with the smaller standard deviation?   RAP Data - Bottom 5%:  School result (38%) was 12% below state average (50%)
 
A machine produces cylindrical pipes. The mean of the diameters of the pipes is 8 cm and the
standard deviation is 0.04 cm.
Assuming a normal distribution, what percentage of cylindrical pipes produced will have a diameter
less than 7.96 cm?
(A)   
(B)   
(C)   
(D)   

16.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2018 HSC 23 MC

A set of data is normally distributed with a mean of 48 and a standard deviation of 3.
Approximately what percentage of the scores lies between 39 and 45?
A. 15.85%
B. 31.7%
C. 47.5%
14.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2014 HSC 24 MC
D. 49.85%
  RAP Data - Bottom 7%:  School result (37%) was 9% below state average (46%)
The weights of  10 000 newborn babies in NSW are normally distributed. These weights have a mean 17.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2013 HSC 20 MC
of 3.1 kg and a standard deviation of 0.35 kg.
There are  60 000  students sitting a state-wide examination. If the results form a normal distribution,
How many of these newborn babies have a weight between 2.75 kg and 4.15 kg? how many students would be expected to score a result between 1 and 2 standard deviations above
(A)    the mean?

(B)    You may assume for normally distributed data that:

(C)    68% of scores have   -scores between  – 1 and 1

(D)    95% of scores have   -scores between  – 2 and 2

99.7% of scores have   -scores between  – 3 and 3.

(A)   
(B)   
(C)   
(D)   
18.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2019 HSC 15 MC 20.  Statistics, 2ADV S3 EQ-Bank 2
The scores on an examination are normally distributed with a mean of 70 and a standard deviation Let  denote a normal random variable with mean 0 and standard deviation 1.
of 6. Michael received a score on the examination between the lower quartile and the upper quartile
The random variable has the probability density function
of the scores.
Which shaded region most accurately represents where Michael's score lies?    where 
 
The diagram shows the graph of  .
A. B.  

C. D.

 
 
i. Complete the table of values for the given function, correct to four decimal places.  (1 mark)
19.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2018 HSC 27e  

Joanna sits a Physics test and a Biology test.

i. Joanna’s mark in the Physics test is 70. The mean mark for this test is 58 and the standard
deviation is 8.
   
Calculate the -score for Joanna’s mark in this test.  (1 mark)
ii. Use the trapezoidal rule and 5 function values in the table in part i. to estimate
ii. In the Biology test, the mean mark is 64 and the standard deviation is 10.  
 
Joanna’s -score is the same in both the Physics test and the Biology test.        (2 marks)
 
What is her mark in the Biology test?  (2 marks)
iii. The weights of Rhodesian ridgebacks are normally distributed with a mean of 48 kilograms and a
standard deviation of 6 kilograms.
 
Using the result from part ii., calculate the probability of a randomly selected Rhodesian ridgeback
weighing less than 36 kilograms.  (2 marks)

21.  Statistics, 2ADV S3 2022 HSC 26

The life span of batteries from a particular factory is normally distributed with a mean of 840 hours
and a standard deviation of 80 hours.
It is known from statistical tables that for this distribution approximately 60% of the batteries have a
life span of less than 860 hours.
What is the approximate percentage of batteries with a life span between 820 and 920 hours?  (3
marks)
22.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2004 HSC 24c 24.  Statistics, 2ADV S3 2021 HSC 32
The normal distribution shown has a mean of 170 and a standard deviation of 10. In a particular city, the heights of adult females and the heights of adult males are each normally
  distributed.
Information relating to two females from that city is given in Table 1.
 
Table 1 Height Gender Percentage of females in this
city shorter than this person
175 cm Female 97.5%
160.6 cm Female 16%

The means and standard deviations of adult females and males, in centimetres, are given in Table 2.
   
i. Roberto has a raw score in the shaded region. What could his -score be?  (1 mark) Table 2 Mean Standard deviation
ii. What percentage of the data lies in the shaded region?  (2 marks) Females m s
Males 1.05m 1.1s

23.  Statistics, 2ADV S3 2021 HSC 22  

A selected male is taller than 84% of the population of adult males in this city.
A random variable is normally distributed with mean 0 and standard deviation 1. The table gives the
probability that this random variable lies between 0 and for different values of . By first labelling the normal distribution curve below with the heights of the two females given in
  Table 1, calculate the height of the selected male, in centimetres, correct to two decimal places.  (4
marks)
z 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
 
Probability 0.0398 0.0793 0.1179 0.1554 0.1915 0.2257
  
The probability values given in the table for different values of are represented by the shaded area
in the following diagram.
 

25.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2019 HSC 38

In a particular country, the birth weight of babies is normally distributed with a mean of 3000 grams.
0 z Is is known that 95% of these babies have a birth weight between 1600 grams and 4400 grams.
One of these babies has a birth weight of 3497 grams. What is the -score of this baby's birth
a. Using the table, find the probability that a value from a random variable that is normally distributed
weight?  (2 marks)
with a mean of 0 and standard deviation 1 lies between 0.1 and 0.5.  (1 mark)
b. Birth weights are normally distributed with a mean of 3300 grams and a standard deviation of 570
Copyright © 2004-22 The State of New South Wales (Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW)
grams. By first calculating a -score, find how many babies, out of 1000 born, are expected to have
a birth weight greater than 3528 grams.  (3 marks)
Worked Solutions 4.  Statistics, STD2 S5 SM-Bank 1 MC

1.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2017 HSC 13 MC

   

   

2.  Statistics, 2ADV S3 SM-Bank 8 MC

5.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2010 HSC 4 MC

6.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2016 HSC 13 MC

   

   
 

3.  Statistics, STD2 S5 SM-Bank 4 MC

 
7.  Statistics, 2ADV S3 2020 HSC 3 MC 9.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2021 HSC 8 MC

 
 
 

8.  Statistics, 2ADV S3 2020 HSC 9 MC

   

10.  Statistics, STD2 S5 SM-Bank 3 MC

34% 34%
2.5% 2.5%
13.5% 13.5%
 

 
 

 
 
25%
10%

    
11.  Statistics, STD2 S5 SM-Bank 2 MC 12.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2006 HSC 17 MC

COMMENT: Two applications of

the 68-95-99.7% rule are required.
A good strategy is to first draw a
normal curve and shade the
  
required areas.
 
  
 

 
 

 
13.  Statistics, STD2 S1 2006 HSC 8 MC
 
14.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2014 HSC 24 MC 16.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2018 HSC 23 MC

♦ Mean mark 46%

♦ Mean mark 47%.

   
 

   
 

15.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2015 HSC 20 MC

♦ Mean mark 50%. 17.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2013 HSC 20 MC

♦♦ Mean mark 24% 

 

 
   

18.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2019 HSC 15 MC

σ

♦♦♦ Mean mark 17%.

19.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2018 HSC 27e 20.  Statistics, 2ADV S3 EQ-Bank 2
i.    i.   

   

  ii.   
 

ii.   

   
 

 
 
iii.   

 
21.  Statistics, 2ADV S3 2022 HSC 26 22.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2004 HSC 24c

i. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10%
 
 

 
34%
ii.   
16%
-1 -0.25 0 1 z-score

 
23.  Statistics, 2ADV S3 2021 HSC 22 24.  Statistics, 2ADV S3 2021 HSC 32

a.    ♦♦ Mean mark part (a) 29%.

COMMENT: Note the Advanced
    and Std2 questions varied slightly 34% 34%
but used the same table and 13.5% 13.5%
  graph. 2.5% 2.5%
b.    160.6 175
♦ Mean mark part (b) 48%.  

  ♦ Mean mark 41%.

 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 

   
 
 

 
   

25.  Statistics, STD2 S5 2019 HSC 38

σ
♦ Mean mark 44%.

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