Chapter 2: Normal Distribution
Lesson 1: Understanding the
Normal Curve Distribution
Recall
What is a continuous random
variable?
It is a random
variable that can take any real
value within a specified range
whereas a discrete
random variable takes some on a
countable number of values
continuous variable involves the
measurement of something, such
as the height of a randomly
selected student, the weight of a
newborn baby, or the
length of time that the battery of
a cellphone lasts.
Distribution of Weights of Babies
Follows a Bell-shaped
Curve
Consider the following data
pertaining to hospital weights (in
pounds) of all the 36 babies that
were born in the maternity ward of a
certain hospital.
4.94 4.69 5.16 7.29 7.19 9.47 6.61 5.84 6.83
3.45 2.93 6.38 4.38 6.76 9.01 8.47 6.8 6.4
8.6 3.99 7.68 2.24 5.32 6.24 6.19 5.63 5.37
5.26 7.35 6.11 7.34 5.87 6.56 6.18 7.35 4.21
The data have an average of 6.11
pounds and a standard deviation of
1.61 pounds.
Observe that the histogram is
approximately a bell-shaped
Many continuous random variables,
such as IQ scores, heights
of people, or weights of M&Ms, have
histograms that have bell-shaped
distributions.
The most important distribution in
statistical science is a normal
distribution, which has a
"bell-shaped" curve.
why the normal distribution is
considered the most important curve
in statistics.
1. Many random variables are either
normally distributed or, at least,
approximately normally distributed.
Heights, weights, examination scores, the
log of the length of life of some
equipment are among a few random
variables that are approximately normally
distributed. Although the distributions
are only approximately normal, the
approximation is usually quite close.
2. It is easy for mathematical
statisticians to work with the normal
curve. A number of hypothesis tests
and the regression model are based
on the assumption that the
underlying data have normal
distributions.
Properties of the Normal Probability
Distribution
• The distribution curve is bell-
shaped.
• The curve is symmetrical about its
center.
• The mean, the median, and the
mode coincide at the center.
• The width of the curve is
determined by the standard
deviation of the distribution.
• The tails of the curve flatten out
indefinitely along the horizontal
axis, always approaching the axis
but never touching it. That is, the
curve is asymptotic to the base
line.
• The area under the curve is 1. Thus,
it represents the probability or
proportion or the percentage
associated with specific sets of
measurement values.
The standard normal curve is a
normal probability distribution that is
most commonly used as a model for
inferential statistics. The equation
that describes the normal curve is:
1 𝑋−𝜇 2
−
𝑒 2 𝜎
𝑌=
𝜎 2𝜋
𝑌 = ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒
𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑋
𝑋 = 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝜎 = 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝜇 = 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝜋 = 3.1416
𝑒 = 2.7183
The Standard Normal Curve
A standard normal curve is a
normal distribution that has a mean
𝜇 = 0 and a standard deviation 𝜎 = 1.
By substituting the mean, 𝜇 = 0 and
the standard deviation, 𝜎 = 1 in the
formula, mathematicians are able to
find areas under the normal curve.
Fortunately, these areas have already
been determined for our use.
The area between -3 and +3 is almost
100% ( not yet 100%) because the
curve almost touches the horizontal
line. Thus, there is a small fraction of
the area at the tails of the distribution.
The Area Under the Normal Curve
The Table of Areas under the Normal
Curve is also known as the z-Table.
The z- score is a measure of relative
standing. It is calculated by
subtracting X– (or μ) from the
measurement X and then dividing the
result by s (or σ).
The final result, the z-score,
represents the distance between a
given measurement X and the mean,
expressed in standard deviations.
Four-Step Process in Finding the
Areas Under the Normal Curve Given
a z-Value
Step 1. Express the given z-value into
a three-digit form.
Step 2. Using the z-Table, find the
first two digits on the left column.
Step 3. Match the third digit with the
appropriate column on the right.
Step 4. Read the area (or probability)
at the intersection of the row and the
column. This is the required area.
Example
Find the area that
corresponds to z = 1.
z = 1.00 0.3413
What does it mean to have z = 1.00?
Area is 0.3413
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
Example
Find the area that
corresponds to z = 2.16
z = 2.16 0.4846
What does it mean to have z = 2.16?
Area is 0.4846
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
Example
Find the area that
corresponds to z = -1.48
z = -1.48 0.4306
What does it mean to have z = -1.48?
Area is 0.4306
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
Example
Find the area that
corresponds to z = 3.24
z = 3.24 0.4999
What does it mean to have z = 3.24?
Area is 0.4999
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
Try this
Find the corresponding
area between z = 0 and
each of the following:
z = 0.35 0.1368
z = -0.6 0.2257
z = 2.75 0.4970
QUIZ: ¼ sheet of paper
Find the corresponding area
between z = 0 and each of the
following:
1. z = 0.96 6. z = -1.53
2. z = 1.74 7. z = -3.01
3. z = -2.18 8. z = 3.04
4. z = 2.69 9. z = 2.42
5. z = 3.00 10. z = 3.16
ANSWERS
1. 0.3051 8. 0.4988
2. 0.4591 9. 0.4922
3. 0.4854 10. 0.4999
4. 0.4964
5. 0.4987
6. 0.4370
7. 0.4987
Assignment: Bond Paper
Find the corresponding area
between z = 0 and each of the
following: Draw the normal curve
and shade the area.
1. z = 0.84 4. z = -2.73
2. z = -1.91 5. z = 3.03
3. z = 1.05
1. z = 0.84 area is 0.2995
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
2. z = -1.91 area is 0.4719
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
3. z = 1.05 area is 0.3531
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
4. z = -2.73 area is 0.4968
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
5. z = 3.03 area is 0.4988
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
