Normal Distribution

The Normal Distribution is the most common continuous distribution which is also
referred to as the Gaussian Distribution, in honor of Karl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855).

The following examples will define the meaning of normal distribution.

 Students in Statistics will have final grades that tend towards the average, (the mean,
the median or the mode). Relatively few will have high grades or low grades.
 In Barangay San Antonio, most households will have a monthly income that is close
to the average monthly income. Relatively few will have high incomes or low
incomes.

The graph of a Normal Distribution will be illustrated below using the Histogram.

Its graph is the normal curve or known as the bell-shaped curve.

The Normal Curve

Characteristics of the Normal Curve

1. The mean, median and mode coincide at the exact center of the distribution. Where the
mean, median and mode are equals.
2. The curve is symmetrical with respect to the y-axis which means that 50% above the
average value and another 50% below the average value.
3. The area under the normal curve is equal to 1 or 100 %.
4. The tails are asymptotic with respect to x-axis which means that the two tails of the
curve will never touch the x-axis.
5. The curve has a single peak.

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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
Table of Areas under the Normal Curve

If a population or sample characteristic is normally distributed, then we can describe

a normal distribution based on a Norman curve referring to Appendix 1; the table of areas
under the normal curve. The numbers in the table are presented below with some entries.

Find the area under the normal curve if z is

1. 0.52 = 0. 1985
2. 1.05 = 0. 3531
3. 1.15 = 0.3749
(for the complete table refer to Appendix A)

Standard Scores (z-Scores)

The distribution of a normal random variable with mean zero and standard
deviation of 1 is called a standard normal distribution or the standard score (z score). This
expresses the value in standard unit denoted by z.

A standard score (aka, a z-score) indicates how many standard deviations an

element is from the mean. A standard score can be calculated from the following formula.

For population

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 z = (X - μ) / σ

where z is the z-score, X is the value of the element, μ is the mean of the population, and
σ is the standard deviation.

For sample

z = (X - x) / sd

where z is the z-score, X is the value of the element, x is the mean of the population,
and sd is the standard deviation.

Here is how to interpret z-scores.

 A z-score less than 0 represent an element less than the mean.

 A z-score greater than 0 represents an element greater than the mean.
 A z-score equal to 0 represents an element equal to the mean.
 A z-score equal to 1 represents an element that is 1 standard deviation greater than
the mean; a z-score equal to 2, 2 standard deviations greater than the mean; etc.
 A z-score equal to -1 represents an element that is 1 standard deviation less than the
mean; a z-score equal to -2, 2 standard deviations less than the mean; etc.
 If the number of elements in the set is large, about 68% of the elements have a z-
score between -1 and 1; about 95% have a z-score between -2 and 2; and about 99%
have a z-score between -3 and 3.
 If for instance the student got a score of 85, it is converted to the z-score of 0. This
means that, the student is at average level. And if the student got z=1, he is one sd
above the average otherwise if it is -1, the student is 1 sd below the average.

Examples

1. Find the area under the normal curve and sketch the curve of the following
a. from z = 0 to z = 1.21
b. from z= -2.13 to z =3.4
c. greater than or equal to z= 1.16
d. lesser or equal to z =-0.5
e. from z =-1.5 and above
f. from z=-1.5 and below

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Solution:
a) z1 = 0 z2 = 1.21
A1 = 0.00 A2 = 0.3869
A1 + A2 = 0.3869

38.69%

.3869

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

b) z1 = -2. 13 z2 = 3.4
A1 = .4834 A2 = 0.4999
A1 + A2 = 0.9833
98.33%

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4

c) z = 1.16

A = .3770

0.5 - .3370 = 0.123

12.3 %

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4

d) z = - 0.5

A = 0.1915

0.5 - .0.1915 = 0.3085

30.85%

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 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4

e) z = - 1.5

A = 0.4332

0.5 + 0.4332 = 93.32%

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4

f) z = - 1.5

A = 0.4332

0.5 – 0.4332 = 0.0668

6.68%

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4

Example Problem:

1. A sample of 5,000 softdrinks manufactured by a certain company were selected at

random and yielded the following results; mean at 1000 ml and the standard
deviation of 5 ml Assuming that a product selected are normally distributed and
only the sample softdrinks contains 995 ml to 1010 ml are accepted, how many
softdrinks sample will be rejected?

2. The average daily income of 2,000 workers is Ph 450 with a standard deviation of
Ph 10. Assuming that the daily incomes are normally distributed, find the number

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 of workers who earn:
a. From Ph 430 to Ph 460 per day.
b. Less than or equal to Ph 440 per day.
c. Greater than or equal to Ph 470 per day.

Solution of #1:
At x = 995 ml → z = -1 At x = 1010 ml → z = 2
Area at z = -1 → .3413 Area at z = 2 → .4772

Getting the percentage of accepted softdrinks: A1 + A2 = .8185

Getting the percentage of rejected softdrinks: 1.0 - .8185 = .1815, multiplied by the
total number of softdrinks sample; 5000 x .1815 = 907.5 or 908 softdrink sample are
to be rejected.

Solution of #2:

a. At x = Ph 430 → z = -2 At x = Ph 460 → z = 1

Area at z = -2 → .4772 Area at z = 1 → .3413

Getting the sum of the values: A1 + A2 = .8185, multiplied by the number of

workers; 2000 x .8185 = 1637 workers earned Ph 430 to Ph 460 per day

b. At x = Ph 440 → z = -1

Area at z = - 1 → .3413
Subtracting from .5 (Half of the Normal Curve) .5 - .3413 = .1587, multiplied by
the number of workers; 2000 x .1587 = 317.4 or 318 workers earned Ph 440 or less per
day.

c. At x = Ph 470 → z=2

Area at z = 2 → .4772

Subtracting from .5 (Half of the Normal Curve) .5 - .4772 = .0228, multiplied by

the number of workers; 2000 x .0228 = 45.6 or 46 workers who earned Ph 470 or more per
day.

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Activity:

1. What is a normal distribution?

2. Is the property of symmetry useful in finding areas under the Normal Curve? How?

3. Is the property of asymptotes useful in computing areas under the normal curve? Why?

4. What is the area under the normal curve between -3SD and +3SD?

5. If a student is considered genius with an I.Q. of 3SD above the mean, what percent is
considered geniuses?

6. Find the area of the following:

a. z = 1.62 to z = 2.43
b. above z = - 1.10
c. below z = -1.8

7. Find the z – score of the following:

a. right of z is 0.0329
b. left of z is 0.9987

8. Mr. Escalona administered a 50-item test to 345 students. The mean and standard
deviation of the test is 35 and 5 respectively. Assuming it is normally distributed; find the
approximate number of students who scored the following:
a. more than 40
b. less than 30
c. between 32 to 38
d. exactly 45

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