Final answer:
To find the maximum and minimum sizes of homes the contractor should build, we can use the concept of standard deviations in a normal distribution.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the maximum and minimum sizes of homes the contractor should build, we can use the concept of standard deviations in a normal distribution. Since the contractor wants to include the middle 80% of the market, we need to find the z-scores that correspond to the lower and upper limits of this range. The z-scores can be calculated using the formula: z = (x - mu) / sigma, where x is the size of the home, mu is the mean (1810 sq ft), and sigma is the standard deviation (92 sq ft).
To find the z-score for the lower limit, we can use the equation -1.28 = (x - 1810) / 92. Solving for x, we get x = -1.28 * 92 + 1810 = 1695.44.
To find the z-score for the upper limit, we can use the equation 1.28 = (x - 1810) / 92. Solving for x, we get x = 1.28 * 92 + 1810 = 1924.16.
Therefore, the maximum size of the homes the contractor should build is approximately 1924.16 square feet, and the minimum size is approximately 1695.44 square feet.