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AP Statistics 6.1 Introducing Statistics: Why Be Normal?- MCQs - Exam Style Questions

Question

The weights of newborn baby boys have an approximately normal distribution with a mean of \(8.0\) pounds and a standard deviation of \(1.5\) pounds. A doctor tells a mother that her newborn baby boy has a weight at the \(25^{th}\) percentile. Which of the following is closest to this baby’s weight?
(A) \(2.00\) pounds
(B) \(5.00\) pounds
(C) \(7.00\) pounds
(D) \(7.63\) pounds
(E) \(8.90\) pounds
▶️ Answer/Explanation
Detailed solution

1. Find the Z-Score for the \(25^{th}\) Percentile:
We need to find the z-score that corresponds to an area of \(0.25\) to the left on a standard normal curve. Using a calculator or z-table (inverse normal function), this z-score is approximately \(-0.674\).

2. Calculate the Weight (x-value):
Use the formula \(x = \mu + z\sigma\).
\(x = 8.0 + (-0.674)(1.5)\)
\(x = 8.0 – 1.011 = 6.989\)

The baby’s weight is approximately \(6.989\) pounds, which is closest to \(7.00\) pounds.
Answer: (C)

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