Scores on a university exam are normally distributed with a mean of 78 and a standard deviation of 8. the professor teaching the class declares that a score of 70 or higher is required for a grade of at least “
c.” using the 68-95-99.7 rule, what percent of students failed to earn a grade of at least “c”?

Following the empirical rule we have 68% of the data around one standar desviation, we can calculate that interval in this way:
78+/-1*8, using negative: 78-1*8= 70, using positive: 78+1*8= 86, so 68% of student scores is between 70 and 86.
As the mean represents the middle of data, 50% of score is more than 78, and as 68% of data is between 70 and 86 this mean the middle of 68% is between 70 and 78, the other middle of 68% is between 78 and 86, the proportion of student passed is 50%+34%= 84% but they want to know the students failed then 100%-84%= 16% of students failed.

Many things that seem threatening in the dark become welcoming when we shine light on them