Approximations
Probability and Statistics · FE Reference Handbook section
Handbook notes for this section
Definitions and conditions exactly as the handbook states them.
- The following table and equations may be used to generate initial approximations of the items indicated.
Core formulas for this FE topic
Definitions, applicability, units, assumptions and worked examples for each relation.
Worked exam-style examples
The four ways this section is written on the real exam — thoughts first, then equations, then substitution.
A probability and statistics problem uses z-score. Given mean (mu) = 3,610 psi; std deviation (sigma) = 580.0 psi; value (x) = 2,130 psi, determine the z-score (z).
Given
Find
z-score (z)
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is z-score.
- Everything except z is given, so isolate z symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Probability and Statistics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that z stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning z = -2.5517 to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- -5.1034 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- -1.2759 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- -2.8069 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Probability and Statistics → Approximations
A probability and statistics problem uses z-score. Given mean (mu) = 5,100 psi; std deviation (sigma) = 350.0 psi; z-score (z) = 0.3200, determine the value (x) in psi.
Given
Find
value (x), in psi
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is z-score.
- Everything except x is given, so isolate x symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Probability and Statistics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that x stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning x = 5,212 psi to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 10,424 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 2,606 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 5,733 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Probability and Statistics → Approximations
A probability and statistics problem uses z-score. Given std deviation (sigma) = 480.0 psi; value (x) = 2,690 psi; z-score (z) = 3.0000, determine the mean (mu) in psi.
Given
Find
mean (mu), in psi
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is z-score.
- Everything except mu is given, so isolate mu symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Probability and Statistics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that mu stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning mu = 1,250 psi to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 2,500 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 625.0 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 1,375 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Probability and Statistics → Approximations
A probability and statistics problem uses z-score. Given mean (mu) = 4,550 psi; value (x) = 6,880 psi; z-score (z) = 1.0300, determine the std deviation (sigma) in psi.
Given
Find
std deviation (sigma), in psi
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is z-score.
- Everything except sigma is given, so isolate sigma symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Probability and Statistics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that sigma stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning sigma = 2,262 psi to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 4,524 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 1,131 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 2,488 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Probability and Statistics → Approximations
A probability and statistics problem uses z-score. Given mean (mu) = 4,720 psi; std deviation (sigma) = 560.0 psi; value (x) = 2,010 psi, determine the z-score (z).
Given
Find
z-score (z)
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is z-score.
- Everything except z is given, so isolate z symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Probability and Statistics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that z stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning z = -4.8393 to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- -9.6786 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- -2.4196 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- -5.3232 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Probability and Statistics → Approximations
A probability and statistics problem uses z-score. Given mean (mu) = 2,220 psi; std deviation (sigma) = 350.0 psi; z-score (z) = -0.3800, determine the value (x) in psi.
Given
Find
value (x), in psi
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is z-score.
- Everything except x is given, so isolate x symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Probability and Statistics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that x stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning x = 2,087 psi to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 4,174 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 1,044 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 2,296 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Probability and Statistics → Approximations
A probability and statistics problem uses z-score. Given std deviation (sigma) = 270.0 psi; value (x) = 3,200 psi; z-score (z) = 1.3100, determine the mean (mu) in psi.
Given
Find
mean (mu), in psi
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is z-score.
- Everything except mu is given, so isolate mu symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Probability and Statistics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that mu stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning mu = 2,846 psi to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 5,693 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 1,423 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 3,131 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Probability and Statistics → Approximations
A probability and statistics problem uses z-score. Given mean (mu) = 3,830 psi; value (x) = 3,290 psi; z-score (z) = 2.7800, determine the std deviation (sigma) in psi.
Given
Find
std deviation (sigma), in psi
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is z-score.
- Everything except sigma is given, so isolate sigma symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Probability and Statistics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that sigma stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning sigma = -194.2 psi to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- -388.5 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- -97.1223 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- -213.7 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Probability and Statistics → Approximations
A probability and statistics problem uses z-score. Given mean (mu) = 3,250 psi; std deviation (sigma) = 320.0 psi; value (x) = 2,140 psi, determine the z-score (z).
Given
Find
z-score (z)
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is z-score.
- Everything except z is given, so isolate z symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Probability and Statistics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that z stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning z = -3.4688 to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- -6.9375 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- -1.7344 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- -3.8156 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Probability and Statistics → Approximations
A probability and statistics problem uses z-score. Given mean (mu) = 4,160 psi; std deviation (sigma) = 140.0 psi; z-score (z) = 0.7200, determine the value (x) in psi.
Given
Find
value (x), in psi
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is z-score.
- Everything except x is given, so isolate x symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Probability and Statistics items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that x stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning x = 4,261 psi to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 8,522 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 2,130 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 4,687 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Probability and Statistics → Approximations