To find the probability that a randomly selected adult female has a pulse rate less than \( 82 \) beats per minute, we first calculate the Z-score using the formula:
\[
z = \frac{X - \mu}{\sigma} = \frac{82 - 75.0}{12.5} = 0.56
\]
Next, we use the Z-score to find the probability. The probability that the pulse rate is less than \( 82 \) beats per minute is given by:
\[
P = \Phi(Z_{end}) - \Phi(Z_{start}) = \Phi(0.56) - \Phi(-\infty) = 0.7123
\]
For part (b), we need to find the probability that the mean pulse rate of \( 16 \) adult females is less than \( 82 \) beats per minute. We calculate the Z-score for the sample mean, where the standard deviation of the sample mean is given by \( \frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n}} \):
\[
z = \frac{82 - 75.0}{\frac{12.5}{\sqrt{16}}} = \frac{82 - 75.0}{3.125} = 2.24
\]
Now, we find the probability:
\[
P = \Phi(Z_{end}) - \Phi(Z_{start}) = \Phi(2.24) - \Phi(-\infty) = 0.9875
\]
The reason we can use the normal distribution in part (b), even though the sample size does not exceed \( 30 \), is:
\[
\text{D. Since the original population has a normal distribution, the distribution of sample means is a normal distribution for any sample size.}
\]
- Probability for part (a): \( \boxed{0.7123} \)
- Probability for part (b): \( \boxed{0.9875} \)
- Explanation for part (c): \( \boxed{\text{D}} \)