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The Normal Distribution

The document discusses the normal distribution, also known as the Gaussian distribution. It is a continuous and symmetrical bell-shaped distribution that is characterized by having the mean, median and mode at the same point. The normal distribution is defined by its mean and standard deviation and is used extensively in statistics to describe phenomena that cluster around an average. Examples are provided of calculating probabilities and percentages for various scenarios involving the normal distribution.

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Colleen Bautista
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650 views2 pages

The Normal Distribution

The document discusses the normal distribution, also known as the Gaussian distribution. It is a continuous and symmetrical bell-shaped distribution that is characterized by having the mean, median and mode at the same point. The normal distribution is defined by its mean and standard deviation and is used extensively in statistics to describe phenomena that cluster around an average. Examples are provided of calculating probabilities and percentages for various scenarios involving the normal distribution.

Uploaded by

Colleen Bautista
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Normal Distribution

 Also known as Gaussian distribution, after the mathematician and astronomer


Karl Gauss.
 It is a continuous distribution which is regarded by many as the most significant
probability distribution in the entire theory of statistics, particularly in the field of
statistical inference.
 It is a graphically represented by a symmetrical, bell shaped curve known as the
normal curve.
 It is characterized as follows:

1. The mean, median and mode have the same value, and therefore are plotted on
the same point (central point) along the horizontal axis.
2. The curve is symmetric about the vertical line which contains the mean.
3. The curve is asymptotic to the horizontal axis; that is, the curve extends
indefinitely in both directions.
4. The total area under the normal curve is equal to 1.

The z-score:

x xx
z ;z 
 s

where z is a z score
x is a raw score
 / x is the mean
 / s is the standard deviation

EXERCISES:

1. The IQ scores of a large group of students are approximately normally distributed


with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. What is the probability that a
randomly chosen student from this group will have an IQ score
a. above 120?
b. below 128?
c. below 93?

2. A computer instructor constructed a learning module aimed at familiarizing new


students with basic EDP concepts. Past experience has shown that the length of
time required by new students to complete the module is normally distributed
with a mean of 250 hours and a standard deviation of 50 hours. What is the
probability that a randomly selected new student will require
a. more than 350 hours to complete the module?
b. more than 200 hours but less than 300 hours?
3. Consider a normal distribution with a mean of 500 and a standard deviation of 50.
a. Below what value can we expect to have the lowest 20%
b. Between what values can we expect to find the middle 80%?

4. The lifetimes of the batteries produced by a company are normally distributed


with a mean of 725 hours and a standard deviation of 60.
a. What proportion of batteries will have lifetimes exceeding 800 hours?
b. What is the probability that a battery will have a lifetime between 750 and
775?

5. In an aptitude test given to a group of 200 applicants, the average score was 75
and the standard deviation was 5. If the scores are approximately normally
distributed, about how many applicants got scores
a. above 78?
b. above 66?
c. between 70 and 80?

6. Referring to the preceding problem, suppose only the top 10 applicants are to be
considered for interview, what must be the cut-off score?

7. Ben has determined that the length of time it takes him to commute from his
residence to school is normally distributed with a mean of 45 minutes and a
standard deviation of 5 minute. How much time must he allow if he wishes to be
in his first class on time 90% of the time?

8. A process was designed to cut metal rods for use in an assembly of mechanical
devices. The lengths of the metal rods cut are approximately normally distributed
with a mean of 2.20 cm and a standard deviation of 0.04 cm. If a particular type
of mechanical devices requires metal rods with lengths between 2.22 and 2.25 cm,
what percentage of the metal rods would be expected to be rejected?

9. In a departmental examination on statistics, the mean grade was 64 and the


standard deviation was 10. If the grades are approximately normally distributed
and 40 students got grades between 60 and 70, how many students took the
examination?

10. The lifetimes of the light bulbs produced by Filip Company are normally
distributed with a mean of 1,150 hours and a standard deviation of 175 hours.
a. What is the probability that a randomly chosen light bulb will have a
lifetime of more than 1,000 hours?
b. What percentage of the light bulbs would be expected to last between
1,000 and 1,500 hours?

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