Areas/Region Under The

Normal Curve

Finding Probabilities and

Percentile Using the Standard
Normal Table
This presentation will
introduce...

 Area/Region Under Normal Curve

 Z scores
 The use of the Normal Curve
table (Appendix A)
 Finding areas above and below a
particular score
 Finding probabilities
 Using the Normal Curve: Z Scores
 To find areas, first compute Z scores.
 The formula changes a “raw” score
(Xi) to a standardized score (Z),
expressed in terms of standard
deviation units above or below the
mean
z=x-μ
δ
 Using the Normal Tables

(1) Area Below z = -2; P(z < -2) = 0.02275

13 - 4
 Using the Normal Tables

(2) Area Below z = -1; P(z < -1) = 0.15866

13 - 5
 Using the Normal Tables

(3) Area to the right of z = +2; P(z > 2) = 0.02275

13 - 6

1 - .97725 = .02275
 Using the Normal Tables

(4) Area to the right z = +1; P(z > +1) = 0.15866

13 - 7

1 - .84134= .15866
 Using the Normal Tables

(5) Area above z = 0; P(z > 0) = 0.5000

13 - 8
 Calculating the Area Under the Normal Curve

(6) Area between -1, +1; P( -1 < z < +1)

up to z = +1: 0.84134
up to z = -1 : 0.15866 subtract = 0 .68268
13 - 9
 Calculating the Area Under the Normal Curve

(6) Area between -1, +1; P( -1 < z < +1)

up to z = +1: 0.84134
up to z = -1 : 0.15866 subtract = 0 .68268
13 - 10
 Calculating the Area Under the Normal Curve

(7) Area between -2, +2; P( -2 < z < +2)

up to z = +2: .97725
up to z = -2 : .02275
0.9545
13 - 11
 Calculating the Area Under the Normal Curve

(8) Area between -2, +1; P( -2 < z < +1)

up to z = +1: .84134
up to z = -2 : .02275
0.81859
13 - 12
 Using the Normal Distribution

P(x) > 18.2 = area to the right of 18.2

= 0.5 or 50%
13 - 13
 Calculating the Area Under the Normal Curve

(6) Area between -1, +1; P( -1 < z < +1)

up to z = +1: 0.84134
up to z = -1 : 0.15866 subtract = 0 .68268
13 - 14
Area between Z=-2.34 and Z= 1.50
-2.34 = .0096
1.50 = .9332 = 0.92355
13 - 15
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

13 - 16
Area to the left of Z= 1.50
1.50 = .93319
13 - 17
Area between Z= 1.50 and Z = 2.34
1.50 = .93319
2.34 = .99036 = .05717
13 - 18
P(16.1 < x < 20.3) = area between 16.1 and 20.3
-1 to +1 = .15866 - .84134 = .68268
= 68.3%
13 - 19
 Calculating the Area Under the Normal Curve

(6) Area between -1, +1; P( -1 < z < +1)

up to z = +1: 0.84134
up to z = -1 : 0.15866 subtract = 0 .68268
13 - 20
 Using the Normal Curve

P(11.9 < x < 22.4) = area between 11.9 and 22.4

= 0.498 + 0.477
= 0.975 13 - 21
 Using the Normal Curve

P(x > 20.30) = area to the right of 20.3

13 - 22
= 0.158 or 15.8%
Finding Probabilities
 Areas under the curve can also be
expressed as probabilities.
 Probabilities are proportions and
range from 0.00 to 1.00.
 The higher the value, the greater the
probability (the more likely the event)
that a particular case will fall within
that area.
Problem 1:Finding Probabilities
 If a distribution has:
 μ = 13
δ =4
 What is the probability of randomly
selecting a score of 19 or more?
 Z = (x - μ)/δ
= (19-13)/4 = 6/4 = 1.5
Finding Probabilities
1. Find the Z score.

2. For Xi = 19, Z = 1.50

1 – 0.93319

3. Probability is 0.06681
Problem 4
 After an exam, you learn that the
mean for the class is 60, with a
standard deviation of 10. Suppose
your exam score is 70. What is your Z-
score?
 Where, relative to the mean, does your
score lie?
 What is the probability associated with
your score (use Z table Appendix A)?
To solve:
 Available information: Xi = 70

μ = 60
S = 10

 Formula: Z = (Xi – μ ) / S
= (70 – 60) /10
= +1.0
Your Z-score of +1.0 is exactly 1
s.d. above the mean (an area of
34.13% + 50% ) You are at the
84.13 percentile.
Problem 1
Most graduate schools of business require
applicants for admission to take the Graduate
Management Admission Council's GMAT
examination. Scores on the GMAT are roughly
normally distributed with a mean of 527 and a
standard deviation of 112. What is the
probability of an individual scoring above 500
on the GMAT?
Solution

a. Z = x - μ = 500 - 527 = - 0.2411

δ 112 = .5 +
( .5-.40517)
= .5 + .09483
b. = 0.59483
Frequency

Scores

500 527
Problem 2
The length of human pregnancies
from conception to birth
approximates a normal distribution
with a mean of 266 days and a
standard deviation of 16 days. What
proportion of all pregnancies will last
between 240 and 270 days?(8-9 mos)
Answer:
a. μ = 266, δ = 16, x =240
b. Z = x - μ = 240 - 266 = - 1.625
δ 16 ≈ .05480
Z = x - μ = 270 - 266 = 0.25
δ 16 ≈ .59871
c. Graph.59871- .05480 = 0.5439
Problem 3
The heights of the women in a
particular town are normally
distributed with a mean of 165 cm
and a stand deviation of 9 cm. What
is the approximate probability that a
woman chosen at random has a
height between 156 cm and 174 cm?
Answer
a. μ = 165, δ = 9, x = 156- 174
b. Z = x - μ = 156 - 165 = - 1
δ 9 ≈ .15866
Z = x - μ = 174 - 165 = 1
δ 9 ≈ .84134
c. Graph .84134- .15866 = 0.6827
Problem 4
The heights of the women in a
particular town are normally
distributed with a mean of 165 cm
and a stand deviation of 9 cm. What
is the approximate probability that a
woman chosen at random is taller
than 174 cm?
Answer
Z = x - μ = 174 - 165 = 1
δ 9 ≈ .1587
or 15.87%