Question: Assume that data recorded on human body temperatures is “normally distributed” with a mean of 98.20 degrees F and a standard deviation of 0.88 degrees F.

a. Bellevue Hospital in NYC uses 100.6 degrees F as the lowest temperature to be considered as a “fever”. What percentage of a normal and healthy population would be considered to have a fever? Does this figure of 100.6 degrees F suggest an appropriate decision for “fever”?

b. Physicians want to select a minimum temperature for requiring further medical tests. What should that temperature be, if we want only 5% of healthy people to exceed that temperature? (such a result would be considered an acceptable false positive)