BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

OG 112- Please help me understand the concept being tested-

Expert replies
Source: — Problem Solving |

by Anju@Gurome » Mon Apr 01, 2013 6:58 am
[email protected] wrote:What does it mean by being one standard deviation from the mean
It means (mean - standard deviation) or (mean + standard deviation)
[email protected] wrote:A certain characteristic in a large population has a distribution that is symmetric about the mean m. If 68 percent of the distribution lies within one standard deviation d of the mean, what percent of the distribution is less than m + d ?
For a better understanding visualize the situation on a number line as follows...

<---------(m - d)--------m--------(m + d)---------->

As the data is symmetric about m, m is exactly middle point of the distribution.

Now 68% of the distribution lies within one standard deviation d of the mean.
Hence, (m - d) to (m + d) = 68% of the distribution.
So, m to (m + d) = (68/2)% = 34% of the distribution.

Hence, percentage of distribution less than (m + d) = 50% + 34% = 84%

The correct answer is D.
Anju Agarwal
Quant Expert, Gurome

Backup Methods : General guide on plugging, estimation etc.
Wavy Curve Method : Solving complex inequalities in a matter of seconds.

§ GMAT with Gurome § Admissions with Gurome § Career Advising with Gurome §
Join the discussion