Definitions

1. Central Limit Theorem. Theorem which states as the sample size increases, the
sampling distribution of the sample means will become approximately normally distributed.
2. Correction for Continuity. A correction applied to convert a discrete distribution to a
continuous distribution.
3. Finite Population Correction Factor. A correction applied to the standard error of the
means when the sample size is more than 5% of the population size and the sampling is done
without replacement.
4. Sampling Distribution of the Sample Means. Distribution obtained by using the means
computed from random samples of a specific size.
5. Sampling Error. Difference which occurs between the sample statistic and the
population parameter due to the fact that the sample isn't a perfect representation of the
population.
6. Standard Error or the Mean. The standard deviation of the sampling distribution of the
sample means. It is equal to the standard deviation of the population divided by the square root
of the sample size.
7. Standard Normal Distribution. A normal distribution in which the mean is 0 and the
standard deviation is 1. It is denoted by z.
8. Z-score. Also known as z-value. A standardized score in which the mean is zero and
the standard deviation is 1. The Z score is used to represent the standard normal distribution.

Introduction
A set of continuous variables where
the mean, median and the mode are all equal
is called a normal distribution. The graph of
a normal distribution is symmetrical and
approximates the bell shaped (see Figure 1).
The area under the bell graph is equal to 1
(or 100%). Since the mean is the same as
the mode , the highest point on the bell is the
mean. Since the median is the same as the
mean, 50% of the values are below the mean Figure 1. THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION GRAPH

and 50% are above the mean.

The normal distribution is used to find probabilities by finding the area under the curve.
The area under the graph from the mean to any given z-score can be determined using Table 1.
The area under the curve is the same as the probability that a value will be between the
mean and the given number.

Steps to find the Probability for a Normal Distribution

Step 1. Find the z score for the given number, x, that is
Step 2. Find the table value for the z score in Table 1.
Step 3. Draw the graph of the probability you want to find.
Step 4. Find the graph on Chart 1 that matches your graph and find the probability you
want.

Example 1. At a certain store, the average amount spent by each buyer is 25 pesos with
a standard deviation of 8 pesos. If a buyer is picked at random, find the probability that the
amount spent will be:
a. Between 25 and 40 pesos
b. More than 40 pesos
c. Less than 40 pesos
Solution: (a)
Step 1. The z score , . Rounding this to two decimal
places, we have 1.88.
Step 2. Using Table 1, at 1.88, we get 0.4699.

Marianne Jane Antoinette D. Pua, M.S. Math Ed.

 Step 3. Draw the graph of the probability you want to
find. (Draw a bell shaped graph. Label the highest point of
the bell, 25. Since 40 is more than the mean, put a mark for
40 to the right of the mean. Since the desired probability is
between 25 and 40, shade in the region between 25 and 40.
Step 4. Find the graph on Chart 1 that matches your
graph and find the probability you want. This picture matches Case 1, so

Solution (b):
"# $%
Step 1. The z score , . Rounding this to two decimal
! &
places, we have 1.88.
Step 2. Using Table 1, at 1.88, we get 0.4699.
Step 3. Draw the graph of the probability you want to
find. (Draw a bell shaped graph. Label the highest point of
the bell 25 and 40 to the right of 25. Since the desired
probability is more than 40, shade to the right of 40.
Step 4. Find the graph on Chart 1 that matches your
graph and find the probability you want. This picture matches
Case 2, so
' ' (

Solution (c):
"# $%
Step 1. The z score !
, &
. Rounding this to two decimal
places, we have 1.88.
Step 2. Using Table 1, at 1.88, we get 0.4699.
Step 3. Draw the graph of the probability you want to
find. (Draw a bell shaped graph. Label the highest point of
the bell 25 and 40 to the right of 25. Since the desired
probability is less than 40, shade to the left of 40.
Step 4. Find the graph on Chart 1 that matches your
graph and find the probability you want. This picture matches Case 3, so )
)

Example 2. The mean time to complete a certain psychology examination is 34 minutes with a
standard deviation of 8. What is the probability of student taking:
(a) More than 28 minutes
(b) Between 15 and 28 minutes
(c) Between 28 and 41 minutes

Solution (a)
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Step 1. The z score , ' .
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Step 2. Using Table 1, the table value of 0.75 = 0.2734.
Step 3. Draw a bell shaped graph. Label the mean, 34,
at the highest point. Put 28 to the left of 34. Shade everything
to the right of 28.
Step 4. This matches Case 3,
So ) ) + ( (

Solution (b)
Step 1. Since there are two given amounts:
,% *" $& *"
'+ ( '+ ( and '
& &

Marianne Jane Antoinette D. Pua, M.S. Math Ed.

 Step 2. Using Table 1, the table value of 2.375 = 0.4913 and the table value of 0.75 =
0.2734.
Step 3. Draw a bell shaped graph. Label the highest
point 34, 28 to the left of 34, and 15 to the left of 28.
Step 4. This matches Case 4, p = table value – table
value so
(' + ( +

Solution (c)
Step 1. Since there are two given amounts:
$& *" ", *"
' and
& &
Step 2. Using Table 1, the table value of 0.75 = 0.2734
and the table value of 0.88 = 0.310
Step 3. Draw a bell shaped graph. Shade the area
between 28 and 41.
Step 4. This matches Case 5, p = table value + table
value so
+ ( ) (

Example 3. The mean time to complete a mathematics exam is 34 minutes with a

standard deviation of 8. If 100 students take the examination, how many should finish in less
than 30 minutes?
Solution. Find the probability of completing the exam in less than 30 then multiply the
probability by the number of students taking the examination to find how many will complete
in less than 30 minutes.
*# *"
a. '
&
b. The table value is 0.1915
c.

d. Case 2, ' (
e. - ( . ( . This means that 31 students should complete the exam in
less than 30 minutes.

Example 4. (Finding for a given probability). Greenwich delivers pizza orders in a

mean of 18.12 minutes. They want to advertise that they will not charge for the pizza that
takes longer than a certain length of time to deliver. If they want to give away more than 5%
of the time, how many minutes should they claim they can deliver in?
Solution. Since this problem gives the probability and asks for the , it is worked
backward from the probability problem. 5% can be thought of as a probability of 0.05.
a. Draw a graph to determine what was done to the
table value to get the probability 0.o5. The problem is
looking for a number that is larger than the mean of 18.12
because they are only going to give away pizzas if their
time is too large, so label 18.12 at the highest point and
label to the right of 18.12. Shade in to the right of
since you are looking for those which are greater than x.
b. This matches Case 2, so ' , thus solving for the table value we
get: ' .
'
'

Marianne Jane Antoinette D. Pua, M.S. Math Ed.

 c. Using Table 1, locate for the table value, 0.45. Since 0.45 is between 0.4495 and
0.4505, then 0. . If / is to the left of the mean, then will be negative. If /
is to the right of the mean, is positive, ) .
d. Solve for /: or / ' 0 1 or / 1)0
!
/' +
(
/ -(. ) + +(
Hence, pizzas will be delivered in over 23 minutes 5% of the time.

Example 5. A company gives an employment test to all applicants for a job. The
results of the test are normally distributed with a mean score of 124 and a standard deviation of
16. If only the top 75% of the applicants are to be interviewed, what scor3 must an applicant
have to be interviewed?
Solution.
1. Draw a graph. Label the mean, 124. Since
you are looking for the top 75% of the applicants, the /
will be smaller than the mean. Shade the right of /.
2. Case 3, ) that is
3. ) . Hence,
+ .
4. The z score closest to 0.25 is 0.67. Since / is to the left of the mean,
5. Solve for /:
!
/' +
'
/ ( + . Therefore, all scores over 113 should be interviewed.

The Central Limit Theorem

The normal distribution can also be applied to sample means drawn from a larger
population. The Central limit Theorem state that the shape of the distribution of sample means
taken from a population with a mean and a standard deviation will approach a normal a
normal distribution will have a mean and a standard deviation . The Central L:imit
2
Theorem is used to find the probabilities concerning a sample mean instead of a single value.
The steps are the same as the steps for finding probabilities for a normal distribution except
that the formula for z score is changed.
For probabilities about the sample mean, we have
3
where 3 is the sample mean and is the population mean.
42
If the sample mean is drawn without replacement from a population of small, finite
size, a correction factor is used. The correction factor should be used if the sample is greater
than 5% of the population. The formula is:
3
where 2 is the sample size and 6 is the population size.
672
5
42 678

Example 6. The mean time to complete an exam is 34 minutes with a standard

deviation of 8. If a class of 30 take the exam, find the probability that the sample mean will be
more than 30 minutes.
Solution. Since you are looking for a probability involving a sample mean, you use the
Central Limit Theorem.
9 *# *"
a. Find , : where /9 ( < 0 ( < 1 , = ( . Thus, > = -2.74.
4; 4?@
b. Table value = 0.4969.

Marianne Jane Antoinette D. Pua, M.S. Math Ed.

 c. The graph is

d. Case 4, ) .

Normal Approximation to the Binomial

A normal distribution can be used to approximate a binomial. A binomial probability is
a repeated number of independent trials that can have only 2 outcomes. If = is large, and is
not, close to 0 or 1, then the normal is a fairly good approximation to the binomial probability.
In a binomial probability, = is the number of trials, is the probability of success, and A is
' The normal can be used to approximate the binomial if both = and =A are larger than
or equal to 5.
Since binomials are a discrete distribution and normals are a continuous distribution, a
correction factor is used when the normal is used to approximate the binomial. For any given
value of /, 0.5 is added or subtracted to get the new boundaries. For instance, if / B is
used in the binomial, then B/B is used in the normal./ C would be / C .
/B would be / B in the normal. You would either add or subtract 0.05 whichever
would give you more area under the normal curve.

The following are the steps use the Normal to approximate the Binomial:
1. Check to see if the normal approximation can be used: = C and =A C .
2. Find 0 = and A D= A.
3. Use the correction factor to write the probability problem.
4. Find .
!
5. Find the table value for .
6. Draw a graph of the probability you are looking for.
7. Use the graphs in Chart 1 to find the probability.

Example 7. A doctor’s office claims it keeps appointments on time 65% of the time. If
120 patients are seen in one week, find the probability that at least 65 patients will be seen on
time.
Solution. This is binomial since there are only two choices and there are repeated
independent trials. = + < <A ' (
1. Check to see if the normal approximation can be used: = C and =A C .
= + - . and =A + - ( . +
Both = and =A are greater than 5, so the normal approximation can be used.
2. Find 0 = and A D= A.
0 =

1 D= A 5 + - .- ( . 4+ ( ++
3. Use the correction factor to write the probability problem.
The desired probability is at least 0.65, / C . Using the correction factor, / C
4. Find .
!
/'0 '
'+
1 ++
5. Find the table value for . E +
6. Draw a graph of the probability you are looking for. Shade to the right of 64.5.

!
Marianne Jane Antoinette D. Pua, M.S. Math Ed.
 7. Use the graphs in Chart 1 to find the probability.
Case 3, ) . Thus ) +

Worksheet 7
1. A machine is set to fill bags with 5 kilos of sugar, but the mean is found to be 5.21 kilos
with a standard deviation of 0.16. what is the probability of a bag of sugar
a. Between 5.21 to and 5.41 kilos?
b. More than 5.41 kilos?
c. Less than5.41 kilos?
d. Less than 4.91 kilos?
e. More than 5.03 kilos
f. Between 5.03 and 4.91 kilos?
g. Between 4.91 and 5.69 kilos?
2. In Exercise 1, if 50 bags are weighed, how many should contain less than 5 kilos?
3. A test was given by one faculty and the results are normally distributed with a mean of
36 and a standard deviation of 5.
a. If this faculty wants to give top 10% of the class with the highest Grade point
average of 1.25, what should be the cut-off for a grade of 1.25?
b. If this faculty wants to give the lowest 20% of the class with the Grade point
average of 3.0, what should be the cut-off for a grade of 3.0?
4. In Exercise 1, if a sample of 40 bags is taken, what is the probability that the mean
weight will be less than 5.15 kilos?
5. The mean time to complete an exam is 34 minutes with a standard deviation of 8 find
the probability that less than 85 examinees will be seen on time.

"
Marianne Jane Antoinette D. Pua, M.S. Math Ed.
 Table 1
Standard Normal Probabilities

z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
0.0 0.0000 0.0040 0.0080 0.0120 0.0160 0.0199 0.0239 0.0279 0.0319 0.0359
0.1 0.0398 0.0438 0.0478 0.0517 0.0557 0.0596 0.0636 0.0675 0.0714 0.0753
0.2 0.0793 0.0832 0.0871 0.0910 0.0948 0.0987 0.1026 0.1064 0.1103 0.1141
0.3 0.1179 0.1217 0.1255 0.1293 0.1331 0.1368 0.1406 0.1443 0.1480 0.1517
0.4 0.1554 0.1591 0.1628 0.1664 0.1700 0.1736 0.1772 0.1808 0.1844 0.1879
0.5 0.1915 0.1950 0.1985 0.2019 0.2054 0.2088 0.2123 0.2157 0.2190 0.2224
0.6 0.2257 0.2291 0.2324 0.2357 0.2389 0.2422 0.2454 0.2486 0.2517 0.2549
0.7 0.2580 0.2611 0.2642 0.2673 0.2704 0.2734 0.2764 0.2794 0.2823 0.2852
0.8 0.2881 0.2910 0.2939 0.2967 0.2995 0.3023 0.3051 0.3078 0.3106 0.3133
0.9 0.3159 0.3186 0.3212 0.3238 0.3264 0.3289 0.3315 0.3340 0.3365 0.3389
1.0 0.3413 0.3438 0.3461 0.3485 0.3508 0.3531 0.3554 0.3577 0.3599 0.3621
1.1 0.3643 0.3665 0.3686 0.3708 0.3729 0.3749 0.3770 0.3790 0.3810 0.3830
1.2 0.3849 0.3869 0.3888 0.3907 0.3925 0.3944 0.3962 0.3980 0.3997 0.4015
1.3 0.4032 0.4049 0.4066 0.4082 0.4099 0.4115 0.4131 0.4147 0.4162 0.4177
1.4 0.4192 0.4207 0.4222 0.4236 0.4251 0.4265 0.4279 0.4292 0.4306 0.4319
1.5 0.4332 0.4345 0.4357 0.4370 0.4382 0.4394 0.4406 0.4418 0.4429 0.4441
1.6 0.4452 0.4463 0.4474 0.4484 0.4495 0.4505 0.4515 0.4525 0.4535 0.4545
1.7 0.4554 0.4564 0.4573 0.4582 0.4591 0.4599 0.4608 0.4616 0.4625 0.4633
1.8 0.4641 0.4649 0.4656 0.4664 0.4671 0.4678 0.4686 0.4693 0.4699 0.4706
1.9 0.4713 0.4719 0.4726 0.4732 0.4738 0.4744 0.4750 0.4756 0.4761 0.4767
2.0 0.4772 0.4778 0.4783 0.4788 0.4793 0.4798 0.4803 0.4808 0.4812 0.4817
2.1 0.4821 0.4826 0.4830 0.4834 0.4838 0.4842 0.4846 0.4850 0.4854 0.4857
2.2 0.4861 0.4864 0.4868 0.4871 0.4875 0.4878 0.4881 0.4884 0.4887 0.4890
2.3 0.4893 0.4896 0.4898 0.4901 0.4904 0.4906 0.4909 0.4911 0.4913 0.4916
2.4 0.4918 0.4920 0.4922 0.4925 0.4927 0.4929 0.4931 0.4932 0.4934 0.4936
2.5 0.4938 0.4940 0.4941 0.4943 0.4945 0.4946 0.4948 0.4949 0.4951 0.4952
2.6 0.4953 0.4955 0.4956 0.4957 0.4959 0.4960 0.4961 0.4962 0.4963 0.4964
2.7 0.4965 0.4966 0.4967 0.4968 0.4969 0.4970 0.4971 0.4972 0.4973 0.4974
2.8 0.4974 0.4975 0.4976 0.4977 0.4977 0.4978 0.4979 0.4979 0.4980 0.4981
2.9 0.4981 0.4982 0.4982 0.4983 0.4984 0.4984 0.4985 0.4985 0.4986 0.4986
3.0 0.4987 0.4987 0.4987 0.4988 0.4988 0.4989 0.4989 0.4989 0.4990 0.4990
The values in the table are the areas between zero and the z-score. That is, P(0<Z<z-score)

#
Marianne Jane Antoinette D. Pua, M.S. Math Ed.
 CHART 1
Graph of the Probability

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Marianne Jane Antoinette D. Pua, M.S. Math Ed.