Normal Distribution

THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
Normal Distribution or normal curve is a probability distribution that is symmetric about the
mean, showing that data near the mean are more frequent in occurrence than data far from the
mean. It is a bell-shaped distribution which has important role in inferential statistics. It provides
a graphical representation of statistical values that are needed in describing the characteristics of
population as well as in making decisions.
The normal distribution refers to continuous probability distribution described by the normal equation.
A random variable x whose distribution has the shape of normal curve called a normal random
variable. This random variable x is said to be normally distributed with mean (µ) and standard
deviation (Ꝺ).
PROPERTIES OF NORMAL PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

1. The distribution curve is bell-shaped.
2. The curve is symmetrical about its center.
3. The mean, median and mode coincide at the center
4. 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.
5. The total area under the normal curve is equal to 1 or 100%.
Two Factors that affect the graph of the normal distribution may depend on:
 Mean – it determines the location of the center of the bell-shaped curve, thus a change in
the value of the mean shifts the graph of the normal curve of the right or to the left.
 Standard Deviation –it determines the shaped graph particularly the height and width.
Large value of standard deviation makes the

normal short and wide (red line)
Small value of standard deviation yields a

skinner and taller normal curve (blue line)
THE STANDARD NORMAL CURVE

Standard normal curve is a normal probability distribution that has a mean µ= 0 and a standard
deviation Ꝺ= 1unit
Every normal distribution (regardless of its mean or standard deviation) conforms to the
following ``Empirical Rule’’ also called 68.26 – 95.44 – 97.73.
Finding the area under a normal curve using z-score (by using z-table)
1. between z=0 and z=1.54

A=0.4382 or 43.82%
2. between z=0 and z=-2.12
A=0.4830 or 48.30%
3. between z=-2.35 and z=1.68
Area of -2.35 from 0 is 0.4906 + Area of 1.68 from 0 is 0.4535 is equal to 0.9441 or 94.41%
4. between z=1.52 and z=2.5

Area of 2.5 from 0 is 0.4938 – Area of 1.52 from 0 is 0.4357 is equal to 0.0581 or 5.81%
5. to the right of z=-1.31
Area of -1.31 from 0 is 0.4044 + Area of the other side which is 0.5 is equal to 0.9049 or 90.49
6. to the right of z=1.78
Area of the half side is equal to 0.50 – Area of 1.78 from 0 is equal to 0.0375 or 3.75%
How to find the x value given a z-score

To convert Standard normal value to a random variable/raw score x, use the formula for
calculating x:
X=µ + z (Ꝺ) raw score for the population

X= x+ z (s) raw score for sample data
Example:
Find the random variable x that correspond to the following
1. µ=50, Ꝺ=12, z=3
X=µ + z (Ꝺ)
=50 + 3(12)
=50 + 36
X=86
2. µ=50, Ꝺ=12, z=-2.5

X=µ + z (Ꝺ)
=50 + (-2.5) (12)
=50 – 30
X=20
3. x =83, s=6, z=0

X= x+ z (s)
=83 + 0(6)
X=83
4. x =45,s=5, z=-0.75
X= x+ z (s)
=45 + (-0.75) (5)
X=41.25
Application of the normal distribution
Problem involving z-score and normal curve
Z=x – x
Ꝺ
Example
In a job fair sponsored by the 3 big companies 2500 applicants applied for a job. Their mean age
was found to be 35 with a SD of 5years.
a.) What is the probability of the job applicant who below 33 years old?
X=33
x=35
Ꝺ=5
Z=33 – 35
5
Z= -0.4
P (Z<-0.4) =0.5-0.1554
=0.3446 or 34.46%
b.) How many applicants have ages between 28 and 44 years?
Z=28-35 Z=44 -35
5 5
Z= -1.4 Z= 1.8
P (-1.4<Z<1.8) =Area of -1.4 from 0 – Area of 1.8 from 0

=0.4192 -0.4641
=0.8833 or 88.33%
2500 x 0.8833 = 2208.25 or 2208 applicants are ages between 28 and 44 years old
c.) Find the percentage of the applicant who are above 39 years old?
Z=39-35
5
Z=0.8
P (z>0.8) = Area of the half side minus Area of 0.8 from 0

=0.5 – 0.2881
=0.2119 or 21.19%

Normal Distribution

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THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

PROPERTIES OF NORMAL PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

Large value of standard deviation makes the

Small value of standard deviation yields a

THE STANDARD NORMAL CURVE

1. between z=0 and z=1.54

2. between z=0 and z=-2.12

3. between z=-2.35 and z=1.68

4. between z=1.52 and z=2.5

5. to the right of z=-1.31

How to find the x value given a z-score

X=µ + z (Ꝺ) raw score for the population

2. µ=50, Ꝺ=12, z=-2.5

3. x =83, s=6, z=0

Application of the normal distribution

Problem involving z-score and normal curve

P (-1.4<Z<1.8) =Area of -1.4 from 0 – Area of 1.8 from 0

P (z>0.8) = Area of the half side minus Area of 0.8 from 0

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