Final answer:
In a normal distribution with a mean of 30 and a standard deviation of 12, a score of X = 18 is to the left of the mean. The proportion of the distribution located in the body to the left of X = 18 is approximately 15.87%.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a normal distribution, if a score is to the left of the mean, it has a negative z-score. If a score is to the right of the mean, it has a positive z-score. In this case, we are given a score of X = 18 in a normal distribution with a mean of μ = 30 and a standard deviation of σ = 12.
To find the proportion of the distribution located in the body to the left of X = 18, we need to calculate the z-score for this score.
The z-score formula is: z = (X - μ) / σ.
Plugging in the values, we get: z = (18 - 30) / 12 = -1.
Since the z-score is negative (-1), it means that the score of X = 18 is to the left of the mean.
To find the proportion of the distribution located in the body to the left of X = 18, we can use a standard normal distribution table or a calculator to find the corresponding area under the curve. The area to the left of a z-score of -1 is approximately 0.1587, which means about 15.87% of the distribution is located in the body to the left of X = 18.