THE NORMAL

DISTRIBUTION
AND ITS
PROPERTIES
NORMAL PROBABILITY
DISTRIBUTION is a
probability distribution
of continuous random
variables.
It is defined as a
continuous frequency
distribution of infinite
range.
The normal distribution
is a descriptive model
that describes real
world situation.
This distribution was
developed by Dr. D.
Moivre in 1733.
This distribution was
rediscovered by the
German mathematician,
Gauss in 1809 and
again by french
mathematician Pascal in
1812.
It is also known as a
BELL CURVED, NORMAL
CURVED, NORMAL
FREQUENCY
DISTRIBUTION, NORMAL
PROBABILITY CURVED,
NORMAL CURVED OF
ERROR AND GAUSS
CURVE.
It is also called Gaussian
DISTRIBUTION, after
Karl F. Gauss who
created a mathematical
formula for the curve.
PROPERTIES
The distribution
curve is BELL-
SHAPED.
 The curve is
SYMMETRICAL about its
center. The mean,
median, and mode
coincide at the center.
The tails of the
curve flatten out
indefinitely along
the horizontal axis
but never touch it
( the curve is
ASYMPTOTIC to the
base line)
 Thearea under
the curve is 1.
Thus, it represents the
probability or
proportion or the
percentage associated
with specific sets of
measurement values.
IMPORTANCE
 Many dependent variables
are commomnly assumed
to be normally distributed
in the population.
Examples: Height,
Weight, and
examination scores.
 If a variable is
approximately distributed
we make inferences
about values of that
variable.
 In case the sample
size is large the normal
distribution serve as
good approximation.
 Due to its
mathematical properties
it is more popular and
easy to calculate.
 It is easy for
mathematical
statisticians to work
with the normal curve.
A number of hypothesis
test and the regression
model are based on the
assumption that the
underlying data have
normal distributions.
It is used in
statistical quality
control in setting up
of control limits.
 The whole theory of
sample test T, F and
CHI SQUARE TEST is
based on the normal
distribution.
 FEATURES OF
NORMAL
DISTRIBUTIONS
 Normal Distributions
are defined by two
parameters, the mean
(µ) and the standard
deviation (σ ).
 The change of value
of the mean shifts the
graph of the normal
curve to the right or
the the left.
The standard deviation
determines the shape
of the graphs
( particularly the height
and width of the
curve).
 When the standard
deviation is large, the
normal curve is short and
wide, while a small value
for the standard deviation
yields skinnier and taller
graph.
EMPIRICAL RULE
OR THE 68-95-99.7
RULE
 A normal distribution,
most outcomes will be
within 3 standard
deviations of the mean.
 About 68% of the
area under the curve
falls within 1 standard
deviation of the mean.
 About 95 % of the
area under the curve
falls within 2 standard
deviations of the mean.
 About 99.7 % of the
area under the curve
falls within 3 standard
deviations of the mean.