Using the normal distribution and the central limit theorem, it is found that the probability that the mean plant height is less than 9.5 cm is of 0.9388.
In a normal distribution with mean [tex]\mu[/tex] and standard deviation [tex]\sigma[/tex], the z-score of a measure X is given by:
[tex]Z = \frac{X - \mu}{\sigma}[/tex]
In this problem, the mean and the standard deviation are given, respectively, by [tex]\mu = 9.31, \sigma = 0.55[/tex].
For samples of n = 20, the standard error is given by:
[tex]s = \frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n}}[/tex]
[tex]s = \frac{0.55}{\sqrt{20}}[/tex]
s = 0.123.
The probability that the mean plant height is less than 9.5 cm is the p-value of Z when X = 9.5, hence:
[tex]Z = \frac{X - \mu}{\sigma}[/tex]
By the Central Limit Theorem:
[tex]Z = \frac{X - \mu}{s}[/tex]
[tex]Z = \frac{9.5 - 9.31}{0.123}[/tex]
Z = 1.54.
Z = 1.54 has a p-value of 0.9388.
Hence the probability that the mean plant height is less than 9.5 cm is of 0.9388.
To learn more about the normal distribution and the central limit theorem, you can check https://brainly.com/question/24663213