Example 6.4 from Statistics, 6.1 The Standard Normal Distribution
From 1984 to 1985, the mean height of 15-to 18-year-old males from Chile was 172.36 cm, and the standard deviation was 6.34 cm. Let Y = the height of 15-to 18-year-old males from 1984–1985, and y = the height of one male from this group. Then Y ~ N(172.36, 6.34).
The mean height of 15-to 18-year-old males from Chile in 2009–2010 was 170 cm with a standard deviation of 6.28 cm. Male heights are known to follow a normal distribution. Let X = the height of a 15-to 18-year-old male from Chile in 2009–2010, and x = the height of one male from this group. Then X ~ N(170, 6.28).
Find the z-scores for x = 160.58 cm and y = 162.85 cm. Interpret each z-score. What can you say about x = 160.58 cm and y = 162.85 cm as they compare to their respective means and standard deviations?
Work it out on paper first. Then open the solution one step at a time, and stop as soon as you can finish on your own.
The z-score for x = 160.58 cm is z = –1.5.
The z-score for y = 162.85 cm is z = –1.5.
Both x = 160.58 and y = 162.85 deviate the same number of standard deviations from their respective means and in the same direction.
How did it go?