The distribution of scores on a standardized aptitude test is approximately normal with a mean of 510 and a standard deviation of 95 What is the minimum score needed to be in the top \( 20 \% \) on this test? Carry your intermediate computations to at least four decimal places, and round your answer to the nearest integer.
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To find the minimum score needed to be in the top \( 20 \% \) on the test, we first need to determine the z-score that corresponds to the 80th percentile (since the top \( 20 \% \) is above the \( 80 \% \) mark). Using a z-table, we find that the z-score for the \( 80\% \) percentile is approximately \( 0.8416 \). Next, we use the formula to convert the z-score to an actual test score: \[ X = \mu + (z \cdot \sigma) \] where: - \( \mu = 510 \) (mean), - \( \sigma = 95 \) (standard deviation), - \( z = 0.8416 \) (z-score for the 80th percentile). Now substituting the values: \[ X = 510 + (0.8416 \cdot 95) \] \[ X = 510 + 79.952 \] \[ X \approx 589.952 \] Rounding this to the nearest integer, the minimum score needed to be in the top \( 20\% \) is \( 590 \).