Let the random variable \( X \) be normally distributed with mean \( \mu = 50 \) and standard deviation \( \sigma = 7 \).
We are tasked with finding the 87th percentile, which corresponds to a cumulative probability of \( p = 0.87 \).
To find the 87th percentile, we use the inverse cumulative distribution function (CDF) for a normal distribution. The formula for the inverse CDF is given by:
\[
x = \mu + z \cdot \sigma
\]
where \( z \) is the z-score corresponding to the cumulative probability \( p \).
Using the inverse CDF, we find the z-score \( z \) such that:
\[
P(X \leq x) = 0.87
\]
Substituting the values into the formula, we find:
\[
x = 50 + z \cdot 7
\]
After calculating, we find that the 87th percentile is approximately \( 57.88 \).
Finally, we round the result to two decimal places, yielding:
\[
\text{The 87th percentile is } 57.88.
\]