Question

Name the distribution and suggest suitable numerical parameters that you could use to model the
weights in kilograms of female 18-year-old students.

Answer 1

I would probably just use a normal distribution

Answer 2

Ok. Why?

Answer 3

Weight is a continuous random variable so I picked the best continuous rv :)

A slightly right skewed distribution might work too...like a skew normal distribution

Answer 4

Ok. Thanks :)

Answer 5

You could argue that weight is a function of many variables, and by the central limit theorem, it will approach a normal distribution.

Answer 6

you would need the weights to be a sum of many variables to use the CLT

Answer 7

Perhaps I did not state it correctly. But by analogy to this reasoning

For example, adult human heights (at least if we restrict to one sex3) are the sum of many heights: the heights of the ankles, lower legs, upper legs, pelvis, many vertebrae, and head. Empirical evidence suggests that these heights vary roughly independently (e.g., the ratio of height of lower leg to that of upper leg varies considerably). Thus it is plausible by the Central Limit Theorem that human heights are approximately normal. This in fact is supported by empirical evidence.