CHAPTER 2: THE

NORMAL
DISTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 2.1: STANDARD
NORMAL CALCULATIONS
 All normal distributions
 Share many common properties,
 Are the same if measured in the same units.
 Use the notation N(mean, standard
deviation).
 The standard normal distribution
 Has a mean of 0 and standard deviation of 1.
 N(0,1)
 Taking any normal distribution and converting
it to have a mean of 0 and StDev of 1 is called
2
standardizing.
STANDARDIZING AND Z-
SCORES.
A standardized value is called a z-score.
 A z-score tells us how many standard

deviations the original observation falls

away from the mean, and in which
direction.
 Observations larger than the mean have
positive z-scores, while observations
smaller than the mean have negative z-
scores.
 Tostandardize a value, subtract the mean
x 
z then divide by the 3
of the distribution and
standard deviation. 
 x  Eleanor – SAT’s Gerald – ACT’s
z
  100  6

500 680 18 27

680  500 27  18
z z 1.8 z z 1.5
100 6 4
NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
CALCULATIONS:
 Area under a density curve represents
a proportion of observations.
 All normal distributions are the same

when standardized
 Allows for quick calculations of areas
with only one equation to use.
1  .5 x2
y e
2
 However, in this course we will use a
table to find areas.
 Table A – first page of textbook. 5
COMPLETE RESPONSE TO A
NORMAL DISTRIBUTION QUESTION
1.State the problem in terms of the observed
variable x. Draw a picture of the
distribution and shade the area of interest
under the curve.
2.Standardize x to restate the problem in
terms of a z-score. On the picture label the
Z-score.
3.Find the required area under the standard
normal curve by using table A, and the fact
that the total area under the curve is 1.
6
4.Write your conclusion in the context of the
problem.
 LET’S GO THOUGH AN EXAMPLE
OF HOW TO USE THE TABLE.
 What proportion of all young women are greater
than 68 inches tall, given that the distribution of
heights for all young women follow N(64.5, 2.5)?
• Step one – Find P(x > 68) on N(64.5, 2.5)

 2.5

64.5 68 7
• Step two – standardize x and label picture with z-
score

 2.5 x 
z

68  64.5
z
2.5
64.5 68 z 1.4
Z-scores 0 1.4

8
 • Step three – find the
probability by using Table A,
and the fact that the total area
is equal to 1.
z 1.40
• This value is for area
to left of z-score, we
need area to right of z-
score in this problem.

• P(z > 1.4) = 1 - .9192

• P(z > 1.4) = .0808

9
• Step four – write the conclusion in context of the
problem.

 2.5
8.08%

64.5 68

• The proportion of young women that are taller

than 68 inches is 8.08%

10
A. Find P(z < 2.85)

0 2.85 11
A. FIND P(Z < 2.85)

0 2.85
The probability that z
falls below 2.85 is
99.78%
B. Find P(z > 2.85)

0 2.85
The probability that z falls
above 2.85 is 1 minus the
probability that it falls below.
12
100% - 99.78% = .22%
C. Find P(z < -1.66)

-1.66 0

The probability that z falls

below -1.66 is 4.86%

13
D. FIND P(-1.66 < Z < 2.85)

4.85% .22%

-1.66 0 2.85

The probability that z falls between -1.66 and 2.85 is 1 minus the
probability that is does not.

100% - 5.07% = 94.93%

14
SECTION 2.1 DAY 1

 Homework: #’s 11, 12, 47, 49, 53a&b,

54a&b, 55a&b

 Additionalnotes packet, read and

answer all questions pg. 17-20.

15
USING TABLE A TO FIND Z.

 Find point Z such that 25% fall below it.

25%

16

Z 0
Look for the closest number to the probability that
you want. This case we will look at .2514.

The value for Z is -.67

17
b. Find point z such that 40% fall above it

40% Since the table is listed

as area to the left of the
line we need to look up
in the table the value of
.6000

0 Z The value for Z

is .25
18
FINDING A VALUE FROM A Z-
SCORE
 To
calculate a value in which x% fall
above or below the point
 Use table A to find the z-score.
 Substitute z, μ and σ into the equation
and solve for x.
x 
z


19
 5 feet 6 inches and 6 feet tall?

 2.5

61.5 64 66.5 69 71.5 74 76.5

20
A. WHAT PERCENT OF MEN ARE AT LEAST 6 FEET
TALL?

 2.5

61.5 64 66.5 69 71.5 74 76.5

x  72  69 Z
z z z 1.2
 2.5
Looking up the value for Z = 1.2 on table A. P(Man < 6’) = 88.49% 21

So P(Man > 6’) = 100% - 88.49% = 11.51%

B. WHAT PERCENT OF MEN ARE AT BETWEEN 5’6” AND
6’ TALL?
x 
 2.5 z

72  69
z1 
2.5
z1 1.2
61.5 64 66.5 69 71.5 74 76.5 66  69
z2 
2.5
-Z2 Z1
z2  1.2

Looking up the value for Z1 = 1.2 on table A. P(Man < 6’) = 88.49%
Looking up the value for Z2 = -1.2 on table A. P(Man < 5’6”) = 11.51%
So 22
P(5’6” < Man < 6’) = 88.49% - 11.51% = 76.98%
C. HOW TALL MUST A MAN BE TO BE IN THE TALLEST 10%
OF ALL ADULT MEN?
 2.5
Reverse lookup in table A
10% for the value closest to
90%. Table gives area
under curve to the left of Z.

From Table A, Z = 1.28

when P = .8997
61.5 64 66.5 69 71.5 74 76.5

x  x  69
z 1.28  3.2  x  69 x 72.2"
 2.5
For a man to be in the tallest 10% of all men, he must be
72.2” or taller.
23
SECTION 2.1 COMPLETE

 Homework: Chapter 2, #’s 51, 52,

53c, 54c, 59

 Finish Standard Normal worksheet

 Additionalnotes packet, read and

answer all questions pg. 25-32.

24
SECTION 2.2: DENSITY CURVES
AND THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTIONS
 Chapter 1 gave a strategy for
exploring data on a single quantitative
variable.
 Make a graph.
 Describe the distribution.
 Shape, center, spread, and any striking
deviations.
 Calculate numerical summaries to
briefly describe the center and spread.
 Five-number summary or,
 Mean and standard deviation. 25
DENSITY CURVES
 Chapter 2 tells us the next step.
 Ifthe overall pattern of a large number
of observations is very regular,
describe it with a smooth curve.
 This curve is a mathematical model for
the distribution.
 Gives a compact picture of the overall
pattern.
 Known as a density curve.

26
 DENSITY CURVES
A density curve describes the overall
pattern of a distribution.
 Isalways on or above the horizontal axis.
 The area under the curve represents a
proportion.
 Has an area of exactly 1 underneath it.
 The median of a density curve is the equal-
areas point.
 Point that divides the area under the curve in
half.
 The mean of a density curve is the balance
point. 27
 Point that the curve would balance at if made
of solid material.
MATHEMATICAL MODEL
A density curve is an idealized
description of the distribution of data.
 Values calculated from a density curve
are theoretical and use different
symbols.
 Mean
Greek letter mu (population)
 (sample)

 Standard deviation
 Greek letter sigma (population)
 s (sample) 28
Find the proportion of
observations within the given
interval
1.0
.75
.5
.25
0
0 .25 .5 .75 1.0 1.25 1.5 1.75 2.0
 P(0 < X < 2) = 1.0
 P(.25 < X < .5) = .125
 P(.25 < X < .75) = .25
 P(1.25 < X < = .25
1.75) = .46875
 P(.5 < X < 1.5) 29
= .15625
 P(1.75 < X < 2)
DENSITY CURVE MODELED BY
AN EQUATION
A density curve fits the model y = .25x
 Graph the line.
 Use the area under this density curve
to find the proportion of observations
within the given interval
 P(1 < X < 2)
 P(.5 < X < 2.5)

 Ifthe curve starts at x = 0, what value

of x does it end at?
 What value of x is the median?
 What value of x is the 62.5 th percentile?
30
 ANSWERS
 Graph
1.0

.5

1.0 2.0 3.0

 P(1 < X < 2) = .375 1 2.24 2.83
 P(.5 < X < 2.5) A  bh
= .75 2
 Max Value of X
1 .5( x)(.25 x) .5 .5( x)(.25 x) .625 .5( x)(.25 x)
 Median
2
 62.5th percentile
1 .125x .5 .125x 2 .625 .125x 2
8 x 2 4 x 2 5 x 2
x  8 2.83 x  4 2 x  5 2.24 31
NORMAL DISTRIBUTIONS:
 Normal curves
 Curves that are symmetric, single-
peaked, and bell-shaped. They are
used to describe normal distributions.
 The mean is at the center of the curve.
 The standard deviation controls the
spread of the curve.
 The bigger the St Dev, the wider the
curve.
 There are roughly 6 widths of standard

deviation in a normal curve, 3 on one

side of center and 3 on the other side. 32
NORMAL CURVE

3 2  1  1  2  3 
33
HERE ARE 3 REASONS WHY
NORMAL CURVES ARE IMPORTANT IN
STATISTICS.
 Normal distributions are good descriptions
for some distributions of real data.
 Normal distributions are good

approximations to the results of many

kinds of chance outcomes.
 Most important is that many statistical

inference procedures based on normal

distributions work well for other roughly
symmetric distributions.
34
THE 68-95-99.7 RULE OR
EMPIRICAL RULE:

 68% of the observations fall within one

standard deviation of the mean.

 95% of the observations fall within two

standard deviation of the mean.

 99.7% of the observations fall within

three standard deviation of the mean.
35
36
61.5 64 66.5 69 71.5 74 76.5

37
 2.5%

95%

2.5%

38

61.5 64 66.5 69 71.5 74 76.5

 2.5%
64 to 74 in

95%

39

61.5 64 66.5 69 71.5 74 76.5

 2.5%
64 to 74 in
16%

68%

16%

40

61.5 64 66.5 69 71.5 74 76.5

 2.5%
64 to 74 in
16%

84% 68%
50% 34%

41

61.5 64 66.5 69 71.5 74 76.5

SECTION 2.2 COMPLETE

 Homework: Chapter 2, #’s 35, 36, 37,

41-45

 Additionalnotes packet, read and

answer all questions pg. 21-24

42
CHAPTER REVIEW

43
44
CHAPTER 2 COMPLETE

 Homework: Unit 1 review sheet.

 Additionalnotes packet, read and

answer all questions pg. 33-38.

 Study for Unit 1 Test

45