In a certain neighborhood, the average number of candies received while trick or treating is 50 with a standard deviation of 12. Isaac received 40 candies, calculate his z-score to the nearest hundredth. (1 point) z =

Trina trick or treated in the same neighborhood and received 47 pieces of candy. Will her z-score be positive or negative? How do you know

1 answer

To calculate Isaac's z-score, you can use the formula for the z-score:

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

where:

  • \(X\) is the value (number of candies received),
  • \(\mu\) is the mean (average number of candies),
  • \(\sigma\) is the standard deviation.

Given:

  • \(X = 40\)
  • \(\mu = 50\)
  • \(\sigma = 12\)

Substituting these values into the formula, we have:

\[ z = \frac{(40 - 50)}{12} = \frac{-10}{12} \approx -0.8333 \]

Rounding to the nearest hundredth, Isaac's z-score is:

\[ z \approx -0.83 \]


For Trina, who received 47 pieces of candy, we can calculate her z-score in the same way:

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

Using:

  • \(X = 47\)
  • \(\mu = 50\)
  • \(\sigma = 12\)

Substituting these values:

\[ z = \frac{(47 - 50)}{12} = \frac{-3}{12} = -0.25 \]

Trina's z-score is negative (-0.25).

The z-score is negative because Trina received fewer candies than the average (50). In general, when a value is below the mean, the z-score will be negative; when it is above the mean, the z-score will be positive. Therefore, Trina's z-score will be negative.