Table of contents
- 1. Intro to Stats and Collecting Data55m
- 2. Describing Data with Tables and Graphs1h 55m
- 3. Describing Data Numerically1h 45m
- 4. Probability2h 16m
- 5. Binomial Distribution & Discrete Random Variables2h 33m
- 6. Normal Distribution and Continuous Random Variables1h 38m
- 7. Sampling Distributions & Confidence Intervals: Mean1h 3m
- 8. Sampling Distributions & Confidence Intervals: Proportion1h 12m
- 9. Hypothesis Testing for One Sample1h 1m
- 10. Hypothesis Testing for Two Samples2h 8m
- 11. Correlation48m
- 12. Regression1h 4m
- 13. Chi-Square Tests & Goodness of Fit1h 20m
- 14. ANOVA1h 0m
6. Normal Distribution and Continuous Random Variables
Standard Normal Distribution
Problem 7.2.12
Textbook Question
Graphical Analysis In Exercises 9–12, match the P-value or z-statistic with the graph that represents the corresponding area. Explain your reasoning.
z = -0.51


1
Step 1: Understand the z-statistic. A z-statistic of -0.51 indicates that the value is 0.51 standard deviations below the mean in a standard normal distribution.
Step 2: Recall that the standard normal distribution is symmetric around the mean (z = 0). Negative z-values correspond to the left side of the distribution.
Step 3: Identify the shaded region in the graph. The blue area represents the cumulative probability to the left of z = -0.51.
Step 4: To find the P-value associated with z = -0.51, you would calculate the cumulative probability using a z-table or statistical software. This gives the proportion of the distribution that lies to the left of z = -0.51.
Step 5: Match the graph with the z-statistic. Since the graph shows the cumulative area to the left of z = -0.51, it correctly represents the P-value for this z-statistic.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Z-Statistic
The z-statistic is a measure that describes how many standard deviations a data point is from the mean of a distribution. It is calculated by subtracting the mean from the data point and then dividing by the standard deviation. In hypothesis testing, the z-statistic helps determine the likelihood of observing a sample statistic under the null hypothesis.
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P-Value
The p-value is the probability of obtaining a test statistic at least as extreme as the one observed, assuming the null hypothesis is true. It quantifies the evidence against the null hypothesis; a smaller p-value indicates stronger evidence. In the context of the z-statistic, the p-value can be derived from the area under the normal distribution curve corresponding to the z-value.
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Step 3: Get P-Value
Normal Distribution
The normal distribution is a continuous probability distribution characterized by its bell-shaped curve, defined by its mean and standard deviation. It is symmetric around the mean, with about 68% of the data falling within one standard deviation. Understanding the properties of the normal distribution is crucial for interpreting z-statistics and p-values, as many statistical tests assume normality.
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