UNDERSTANDING

THE
Z - SCORES
• In previous lesson, you learned the basic concepts about normal
distribution and its importance in statistical inference.

• You further learned its properties and calculated probabilities

using the normal curve table.

• In this lesson, you will learn how to relate the concept of the
normal curve to a random variable distribution.
 Exploring the z - score
• THE Z – SCORE
The areas under the normal curve are given in terms of z – values or scores. Either the z-scores locates X within a
sample or within a population.
The formula for calculating z is:
z = (z – score for population data)

z = (z – score for sample data)

Where: X = given measurement
= population mean
= population standard deviation
= sample mean
s = sample standard deviation
• The z values are matched with specific areas under the
normal curve in a normal distribution table. Therefore, if
we wish to find the percentage associated with X , we must
find its matched z-values using the z-formula. The z-value
leads to the area under the curve found in the normal curve
table, which is a probability, and that probability gives the
desired percentage for X.
The following examples illustrate these concepts.

EXAMPLE 1. Reading Scores

Given the mean, = 50 and the standard deviation, = 4 of a population of Reading
scores. Find the z-value that corresponds to a score X = 58.
STEPS SOLUTION

1. Use the computing formula for finding z-scores

of a population data. z=

2. Check given values. Since these are population

values, the z-scores locates X within a population. , , and X = 58

3. Substitute the given values in the computing

formula. z=
z==2
Thus, the z-value that corresponds to
4. Compute the z-value.
the raw score 58 is 2 in a population
distribution.
This conversion from raw score to z-score is shown
graphically in figure 1.
Figure 1
Normal Curve showing z-scores and Raw
Scores

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
38 42 46 50 54 58 62
• From the diagram, we see that a score X = 58 corresponds to
z = 2. It is above the mean. So we can say,
with respect to the mean, the score of 58 is above
average.

Note: In Figure 1, because z = 0 is the center of the

distribution, the negative z-values
EXAMPLE 2. Score in PE
• Locate the z-value that corresponds to a PE score of 39 given that = 45 and = 6
STEP SOLUTION
1. Use the computing formula for
z=
finding z-scores of population data.
2. Check given values. The z-score in
, , and X = 39
question locates X in a population.
3. Substitute the given values in the
z=
computing formula.
z = = -1
Thus, the z-value that corresponds
4. Compute the z-value. to the raw score 39 is -1 in a
population distribution.
 Who can locate the z-value that
corresponds to a PE score of 39 given that =
45 and = 6?
Who can interpret the result?

• With respect to the mean, the score 39 is

below the population mean. We can also say
that the score 39 is below average.
EXAMPLE 3. Score in Statistics and Probability test
• Given X = 20, X = 26 and s = 4. Compute the corresponding z-score.
STEP SOLUTION
1. Use the computing formula for
z=
finding z-scores of population data.
2. Check given values. The z-score in
question locates X in a population.
3. Substitute the given values in the
z=
computing formula.
z = = = -1.5
4. Compute the z-value. The corresponding z-score is -1.5 to
the left of the mean.
 Who can locate the z-value that
corresponds to Statistics and probability score
given X = 20, X = 26 and s = 4
Who can interpret the result?

• With respect to the sample mean, the score

20 is below the population mean. We can
also say that the score 20 is below average.