Answer:
0.8944 = 89.44% probability that the mean annual precipitation during 25 randomly picked years will be less than 112 inches.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve this question, we use the normal probability distribution and the central limit theorem.
Normal Probability Distribution:
Problems of normal distributions can be solved using the z-score formula.
In a set with mean
and standard deviation
, the z-score of a measure X is given by:
![Z = \frac{X - \mu}{\sigma}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=Z%20%3D%20%5Cfrac%7BX%20-%20%5Cmu%7D%7B%5Csigma%7D)
The Z-score measures how many standard deviations the measure is from the mean. After finding the Z-score, we look at the z-score table and find the p-value associated with this z-score. This p-value is the probability that the value of the measure is smaller than X, that is, the percentile of X. Subtracting 1 by the p-value, we get the probability that the value of the measure is greater than X.
Central Limit Theorem
The Central Limit Theorem establishes that, for a normally distributed random variable X, with mean
and standard deviation
, the sampling distribution of the sample means with size n can be approximated to a normal distribution with mean
and standard deviation
.
For a skewed variable, the Central Limit Theorem can also be applied, as long as n is at least 30.
Mean of 109.0 inches, and a standard deviation of 12 inches.
This means that ![\mu = 109, \sigma = 12](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=%5Cmu%20%3D%20109%2C%20%5Csigma%20%3D%2012)
Sample of 25.
This means that ![n = 25, s = \frac{12}{\sqrt{25}} = 2.4](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=n%20%3D%2025%2C%20s%20%3D%20%5Cfrac%7B12%7D%7B%5Csqrt%7B25%7D%7D%20%3D%202.4)
What is the probability that the mean annual precipitation during 25 randomly picked years will be less than 112 inches?
This is the p-value of Z when X = 112. So
![Z = \frac{X - \mu}{\sigma}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=Z%20%3D%20%5Cfrac%7BX%20-%20%5Cmu%7D%7B%5Csigma%7D)
By the Central Limit Theorem
![Z = \frac{X - \mu}{s}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=Z%20%3D%20%5Cfrac%7BX%20-%20%5Cmu%7D%7Bs%7D)
![Z = \frac{112 - 109}{2.4}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=Z%20%3D%20%5Cfrac%7B112%20-%20109%7D%7B2.4%7D)
![Z = 1.25](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=Z%20%3D%201.25)
has a p-value of 0.8944.
0.8944 = 89.44% probability that the mean annual precipitation during 25 randomly picked years will be less than 112 inches.