Final answer:
The value of z that distinguishes between a likely and an unlikely event is known as the critical value. It defines the boundary of a certain area under the standard normal curve.
Step-by-step explanation:
A critical value is a value of z that separates a likely event from an unlikely event. It is the value that defines the boundary of a certain area under the standard normal curve. For example, a critical value of 1.645 is used when discussing a z-score with a confidence level of 90%. This critical value divides the area to the left of the z-score into a central area of 0.90 and smaller areas in the far left and far right tails, each with an area of 0.05. This allows us to determine the likelihood of an event based on its z-score and the critical value