Algebra II : Algebra II

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra II

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Z Scores

In a normal distribution, if the mean score is 8 in a gymnastics competition and the student scores a 9.3, what is the z-score if the standard deviation is 2.5?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2.16\)

\(\displaystyle 0.85\)

\(\displaystyle -0.85\)

\(\displaystyle -1.04\)

\(\displaystyle 0.52\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 0.52\)

Explanation:

Write the formula to find the z-score.  Z-scores are defined as the number of standard deviations from the given mean.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma }\)

Substitute the values into the formula and solve for the z-score.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma } = \frac{9.3-8}{2.5} =0.52\)

Example Question #2 : Z Scores

Suppose a student scored a \(\displaystyle 65\) on a test.  The mean of the tests are \(\displaystyle 72\), and the standard deviation is \(\displaystyle 8\).  What is the student's z-score?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -0.75\)

\(\displaystyle -1.143\)

\(\displaystyle -0.875\)

\(\displaystyle -0.85\)

\(\displaystyle -2.475\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -0.875\)

Explanation:

Write the formula for z-score where \(\displaystyle x\) is the data, \(\displaystyle \mu\) is the population mean, and \(\displaystyle \sigma\) is the population standard deviation.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma}\)

Substitute the variables.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{65-72}{8} =- \frac{7}{8} = -0.875\)

The z-score is:  \(\displaystyle -0.875\) 

Example Question #3 : Z Scores

Suppose Bob's test score is 50.  Determine the z-score if the standard deviation is 3, and the mean is 75.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{2}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{75}{47}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{25}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle -7\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{25}{3}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{25}{3}\)

Explanation:

Write the formula for z-scores.  This tells how many standard deviations above the below the mean.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma}\)

Substitute the known values into the equation.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{50-75}{3} =-\frac{25}{3}\)

The z-score is:  \(\displaystyle -\frac{25}{3}\)

Example Question #4 : Z Scores

Find the z-score if the result of a test score is 6, the mean is 8, the standard deviation is 2.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -1\)

\(\displaystyle \textup{The answer is not given.}\)

\(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle -2\)

\(\displaystyle 1\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -1\)

Explanation:

Write the formula to determine the z-scores.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma}\)

Substitute all the known values into the formula to determine the z-score.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{6-8}{2}\)

Simplify this equation.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{-2}{2} = -1\)

The answer is:  \(\displaystyle -1\)

Example Question #431 : Basic Statistics

Determine the z-score of a test result is 45, the mean is 60, and the standard deviation is 8.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{15}{64}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{15}{16}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{15}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle \textup{There is not enough information to determine the z-score.}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{15}{8}\)

Explanation:

Write the formula for z-scores.  Z-scores determine the number of standard deviations below or above the mean.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma}\)

Substitute the values into the formula to determine the z-score.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{45-60}{8}= -\frac{15}{8}\)

The z-score is \(\displaystyle -\frac{15}{8}\).

Example Question #432 : Basic Statistics

Suppose Billy scored a 54 on his exam.  The mean of the exam grades is 66 and the standard deviation is 3.  What is the z-score?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -4\)

\(\displaystyle -3.75\)

\(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle -2\)

\(\displaystyle 4\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -4\)

Explanation:

Write the formula for z-scores.  Z scores determine how many standard deviations a score is above or below the mean.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{X-\mu}{\sigma}\)

Substitute the known values in order to determine the z-score.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{X-\mu}{\sigma} = \frac{54-66}{3} = -4\)

The answer is:  \(\displaystyle -4\)

Example Question #433 : Basic Statistics

Sarah scored an 8.5 out of ten on her gymnastics floor routine.  If the mean of the scores is 9.2 and the standard deviation is 1.3, what is her z-score?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0.338\)

\(\displaystyle -0.538\)

\(\displaystyle -0.574\)

\(\displaystyle -0.642\)

\(\displaystyle -1.268\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -0.538\)

Explanation:

Write the formula for z-scores.  Z-scores are indicators of how many standard deviations above or below the mean.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma}\)

\(\displaystyle x=\textup{score}\)

\(\displaystyle \mu = \textup{mean}\)

\(\displaystyle \sigma =\textup{ standard deviation}\)

Substitute the known values.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{8.5-9.2}{1.3} = \frac{-0.7}{1.3} = -0.538\)

The answer is:  \(\displaystyle -0.538\)

Example Question #434 : Basic Statistics

You just took your ACT. The mean score was a \(\displaystyle 22\) with a standard deviation of \(\displaystyle 3\). If you scored a \(\displaystyle 26\), what is your z-score?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1.33\)

\(\displaystyle 1.25\)

\(\displaystyle 1.55\)

\(\displaystyle 0.75\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1.33\)

Explanation:

Use the formula for z-score:

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{x-\mu }{\sigma }\)

Where \(\displaystyle x\) is your score, \(\displaystyle \mu\) is the mean, and \(\displaystyle \sigma\) is the standard deviation.

\(\displaystyle z=\frac{26-22}{3}=1.33\)

Example Question #1 : Identifying Variable Relationships

\(\displaystyle y\) varies directly with the square root of \(\displaystyle x\). If \(\displaystyle x = 25\), then \(\displaystyle y = 48\) . What is the value of \(\displaystyle y\) if \(\displaystyle x = 81\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 86.4\)

\(\displaystyle 155.52\)

\(\displaystyle 491.52\)

\(\displaystyle 26\tfrac{2}{3}\)

None of these answers are correct.

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 86.4\)

Explanation:

If \(\displaystyle y\) varies directly with the square root of \(\displaystyle x\), then for some constant of variation \(\displaystyle K\)

\(\displaystyle \small y = K \sqrt{x}\)

If \(\displaystyle x = 25\), then \(\displaystyle y = 48\); therefore, the equation becomes 

\(\displaystyle \small \small 48 = K \sqrt{25}\)

or

\(\displaystyle 5K = 48\).

Divide by 5 to get \(\displaystyle K = 9.6\), making the equation 

\(\displaystyle \small \small y = 9.6 \sqrt{x}\).

If \(\displaystyle x = 81\), then \(\displaystyle \small \small \small y = 9.6 \sqrt{81} = 9.6 \cdot 9 = 86.4\).

Example Question #435 : Basic Statistics

If \(\displaystyle y\) varies directly with \(\displaystyle x^{3}\) and when \(\displaystyle x=5\)\(\displaystyle y=61.125\) due to the effect of a constant, what is the value of \(\displaystyle y\) when \(\displaystyle x=11\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle y=672.375\)

\(\displaystyle y=43.331\)

\(\displaystyle y=1,331\)

\(\displaystyle y=650.859\)

\(\displaystyle y=134.475\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle y=650.859\)

Explanation:

Since \(\displaystyle y\) varies directly with \(\displaystyle x^{3}\)\(\displaystyle y=Kx^{3}\) where \(\displaystyle K\) is a constant.

1. Solve for \(\displaystyle K\) when \(\displaystyle x=5\) and \(\displaystyle y=61.125\).

\(\displaystyle y=Kx^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 61.125=K(5^{3})\)

\(\displaystyle K=\frac{61.125}{125}=0.489\)

2. Use your equation to solve for \(\displaystyle y\) when \(\displaystyle x=11\).

\(\displaystyle y=0.489x^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle y=0.489(11^{3})=650.859\)

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors