Table of Contents

Continuous Random The Normal

01 02
Variables Distribution

The Standard Normal Standardising Normal

03 04
Distribution Distribution

The normal approximation

Modelling with Normal
05 06 to the binomial
Distribution
distribution
Continuous Random Variables
 Continuous Random Variables

• Table below shows the probability distribution of the outcome of a single throw of a
dice.
𝑥 1 2 3 4 5 6

𝑃 𝑋=𝑥 1 1 1 1 1 1
6 6 6 6 6 6
• When X is discrete random variable, we represent 𝑃 𝑋 = 𝑥 .

• Continuous random variable is not defined for specific values.

• It is defined over interval of values.
• When X is continuous random variable, we represent 𝑃(𝑎 ≤ 𝑋 ≤ 𝑏).
 Continuous Random Variables
Consider the lengths, in millimeters of 50 leaves that have fallen from a coffee tree.
Continuous Random Variables
Continuous Random Variables
The Normal
Distribution
 Normal Distribution
If a probability distribution is represented by a normal curve:
• Mean=Median=Mode
• The peak of the curve is at the mean, and this is where we find the
curve’s line of symmetry.
• Probability density decreases as we move away from mean on both
sides, so, the further the values from mean, the less likely there are to
occur.
• Increase in standard deviation, meaning that the value is spread-out from
mean.
 Normal Distribution
In order to specify the distribution, we need mean, , and
variance, .
The notation:
Normal Distribution
Normal Distribution
 The Standard
Normal Distribution
 The Standard Normal Distribution
The standardized value, Z, is calculated from the value X by:

If and ,
then .
The Standard Normal Distribution
The Standard Normal Distribution
The Standard Normal Distribution
Given that ,
find and
 The Standard Normal Distribution
Given that , find correct to 3
decimal places .
The Standard Normal Distribution
 The Standard Normal Distribution
The random variable is such that Find the
following probabilities:
 The Standard Normal Distribution
Given that , find the value such that
.
 The Standard Normal Distribution
Given that , find the value such that
7713.
 The Standard Normal Distribution
The random variable is such that . Use the normal
distribution function table to find
a) The value of such that .
b) The value of such that .
 04
Standardising Normal
Distribution
 Standardising Normal Distribution
• The probability distribution of a normally distributed random
variable is represented by a normal curve.
• This curve is:
• Centred on the mean,
• Area under the graph equal to 1
• Height determined by standard deviation.
 Standardising Normal Distribution
Given that , find correct to 3 significant
figures.
 Standardising Normal Distribution
Given that , find correct to 3 significant
figures.
 Standardising Normal Distribution
Given that , find correct to 3 significant
figures.
 Standardising Normal Distribution
Given that , find the following probabilities.
 Standardising Normal Distribution
Given that , find, correct to 3 significant figures, the
values of and such that:
 Standardising Normal Distribution
Given that , and , find
the values of and .
 Modelling with
Normal Distribution
 Modelling
The mass of newborn baby in a certain region is normally
distributed with mean and variance . Estimate
how many of the 1356 babies born last year had masses of less
than .
 Modelling
A factory produces half-litre tins of oil. The volume of oil in the tin is
normally distributed with mean and standard deviation .
a) What is the percentage of tins contain less than half a litre of oil.
b) Find the probability that exactly 1 out of 3 randomly selected tins
contains less than half a litre of oil.
 Modelling
Two friends Sarah and Hannah often goes to the Post Office together. They travel on Sarah’s
scooter. Sarah always drives Hannah to the post office and drops her off there. Sarah then drives
around until she is ready to pick Hannah up some time later. Their experience has been that the
time Hannah takes in the Post Office can be approximated by a normal distribution with mean 6
minutes and standard deviation 1.3 minutes. How many minutes after having dropped Hannah off
should Sarah return if she wants to be at least 95% certain that Hannah will not keep her waiting.
 Modelling
A biologist has been collecting data on the heights of particular species of cactus
(Notocactus rutilans). He has observed that 34.2% of the cacti are below than 12 cm in
height and 18.4% of the cacti are above 16 cm in height. He assumes that the heights
are normally distributed. Find the mean and standard deviation of the distribution.
 The Normal
Approximation to the
Binomial Distribution
 Approximation
Given . Estimate the probability that a school of
1000 students contains more than 150 left-handed students.
Approximation
 Approximation

If , and if and ,
then can be approximate by 𝟐
Approximation
 Approximation
Given that , use a suitable approximation and
continuity correction to find:
Approximation
 Approximation
Boxes are packed with 8000 randomly selected items. It is
known that 0.2% of the item is yellow. Find using suitable
approximation, the probability that:
a) A box contains fewer than 20 yellow items
b) Exactly 2 out of 3 randomly selected boxes contain fewer
than 20 yellow items.
 Approximation
A fair coin is tossed 888 times. Find, by use of a suitable
approximation, the probability that the coin lands heads-up at
most 450 times.
 Approximation
The random variable has a binomial distribution with
parameters and . Use the suitable approximation
to calculate the following probabilities.
 Approximation
A manufacturer of spice jars knows that 8% of the jars produce are defective. He supplies jars in
cartons containing 12 jars. He supplies cartons of jars in crates of 60 cartons. In each case making
clear the distribution that you are using, calculate the probability that
a) A carton contains exactly two defective jars
b) A carton contains at least one defective jars
c) A crates contains between 39 and 44 (inclusive) cartons with at least one defective jar.