A large manufacturing firm tests job applicants who recently

A large manufacturing firm tests job applicants who recently graduated from college. The test scores are normally distributed with a mean of 500 and a standard deviation of 50. Management is considering placing a new hire in an upper level management position if the person scores in the upper 6 percent of the distribution. What is the lowest score a college graduate must earn to qualify for a responsible position?

Solution

First, we get the z score from the given left tailed area. As          
          
Left tailed area =    0.94      
          
Then, using table or technology,          
          
z =    1.554773595      
          
As x = u + z * s,          
          
where          
          
u = mean =    500      
z = the critical z score =    1.554773595      
s = standard deviation =    50      
          
Then          
          
x = critical value =    577.7386797   [ANSWER]