High School

The measured weights of 1,000 men in a certain village follow a normal distribution with a mean of 150 pounds and a standard deviation of 15 pounds. Which sentence most closely summarizes the data?

A. About 160 people weigh more than 165 pounds.
B. About 320 people weigh more than 165 pounds.
C. About 320 people weigh less than 165 pounds.
D. About 640 people weigh less than 165 pounds.

Answer :

Final answer:

The correct summary of the data is that about 160 people weigh more than 165 pounds, based on the empirical rule for a normal distribution.

Explanation:

To summarize the data of the measured weights of 1,000 men in a certain village, which follows a normal distribution with a mean of 150 pounds and a standard deviation of 15 pounds, we can use the empirical rule (68-95-99.7). According to this rule, approximately 68% of data values fall within one standard deviation of the mean, 95% fall within two standard deviations, and 99.7% fall within three standard deviations.

In this context, since 165 pounds is one standard deviation above the mean (150 + 15 = 165), it means approximately 16% of men (100% - 84%) will weigh more than 165 pounds, which translates to about 160 people (0.16 * 1000).

Therefore, the correct summarization is: About 160 people weigh more than 165 pounds.