Q:

The mean amount spent by a family of four on food per month is $500 with a standard deviation of $75. assuming that the food costs are normally distributed, what is the probability that a family spends less than $410 per month? 0.2158 0.8750 0.0362 0.1151

Accepted Solution

A:
                                  
Are you familiar with z-scores?  According to the definition,

       (given numerical value) - (mean)
z = ---------------------------------------------
              standard deviation

Thus, with the given numerical value equal to 410 and the std. dev. equal to 75, the corresponding z-score is 
       
          410-500                  -90
z = --------------------- = --------------- = -1.2
               75                        75

Use a table of z-scores to determine the area under the standard normal curve to the left of z = -1.2.  Your result is the probability that a given family chosen at random spends less than $410 per month.