CHAPTER 2

NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

Prepared by: Dominic T.

Payyac
 Lesson 5
Locating Percentiles
Under the Normal Curve
Lesson Objectives
• Find z-scores when probabilities are given
• Locate percentiles under the normal curve
Getting Ready

Which of the following expressions are familiar to you?

First Honor
Top Five
A score of 98%

Recalling basic statistics, these are expressions of

order. They indicate relative standing. In real life, many
people want to belong to a high level in terms of relative
standing
 Locating Percentile under the Normal Curve

Task 1

• Recall the concept of a percentile

• Read the following notes carefully
 For any set of measurements (arranged in ascending
or descending order), a percentile (or a centile) is a point
in the distribution such that a given number of cases is
below it. A percentile is a measure of relative standing. It
is a descriptive measure of the relationship of a
measurement to the rest of the data.
For example, in a test in Algebra, you got a score of
82 and you want to know how you fared in comparison
with your classmates. If your teacher tells you that you
scored in the 90th percentile, --
-- it means that 90% of the grades were lower than yours and
10% were higher. If the relative frequency histogram were
used to show scores, the 90th percentile would be located at a
point such that 90% of the total area under the relative
frequency histogram lies below the 90 th percentile and 10%
lies above.
In a previous lesson, we learned how to compute z-scores
based on the means and standard deviations for both sample
and population. The resulting z-scores allowed us to read the
corresponding areas (or probabilities) using the standard
normal table.
 Suppose that we know the probability this time/ What
is the corresponding z-score. For example, where is 95%
under the normal curve?
There are three important things to remember when we
are given probabilities and we want to know their
corresponding z-scores.
 Listen Up
• First, a probability value corresponds to an area under
the normal curve
• Second, in the Table of Areas Under the Normal Curve,
the numbers in the extreme left across the top are z-
scores, which are the distances along the horizontal
scale. The numbers in the body of the table are areas or
probabilities
• Third, the z-scores to the left of the mean are negative
values
 Thus, when we are given the area and we wish to find
the corresponding z-value, we locate the given area at the
body of the table. If the exact area is not available, we take
the nearest area. Then we look up the corresponding z-value
in the Table of Areas Under the Normal Curve or z-table.
Task 2
• Compute the z-scores when probabilities are given
• Locate the point under the normal curve
Example 1. Find the 95th percentile of a normal curve.
Analysis: By definition of P95, this means locating an
area before or below the point. We want to
know what the z-value is at this point.
 STEPS SOLUTION

1. Draw the appropriate

normal curve

2. Express the given

95% is the same as 0.9500
percentage as probability.

3. Split 0.9500 into 0.5000

0.9500 = 0.5000 + 0.4500
and 0.4500
4. Shade 0.5000 of the normal curve
in Step 1.
5. Refer to the z-Table. Locate the This area is not found in the
area 0.4500 in the body of the table. It is between the
table. values of 0.4495 and 0.4505
6. Find the z-score that corresponds Find z by interpolation, as
to 0.4500 in the leftmost column. follows…
7. Find the z-value that corresponds to 0.4505 z = 1.65
0.4505
8. Find the z-value that corresponds
0.4495 z = 1.64
to 0.4495
9. Find the average of the two 1.65+1.64
𝑧= =1.645
z-values. 2
10. Locate z = 1.645 under the
normal in Step 1 and make a The 95th percentile is z = 1.645
statement.
11. Draw a line through z = 1.645 Do this under the normal curve
under the normal curve in Step 1 in Step 1.
12. Shade the region to the left of Do this under the normal curve
z = 1.645 in Step 1

13. Describe the shaded region The shaded region is 95% of

the distribution.
If, on the 6th step you find the z-value in the leftmost column,
skip the steps 7th, 8th, & 9th. Proceed to steps 10 to 13.

Task 3
 Study the steps involved in this problem.
 Complete the solution if needed.

Example 2. Find the upper 10% of the normal curve.

 STEPS SOLUTION

1. Draw the appropriate

normal curve

2. Express the given percentage 10% is the same as 0.1000

as probability.
3. With respect to the mean, locate to the right of the mean…
the upper 10%
4. Using the upper side of the mean,
0.5000 – 0.1000 = 0.4000
find the remaining area
5. Refer to the z-Table. Locate the area This area is not found in the
0.4000 in the body of the table table. So we take 0.3997,
which is the closest value.
6. Find the z-score that corresponds z = 1.28
to 0.3997 on the leftmost column
7. Locate z = 1.28 Under the Curve That is, the upper 10% is
in Step 1 and make a statement. above z = 1.28
8. Draw a line through z = 1.28 Do this Under the Normal Curve in Step 1
Under the Normal Curve in Step 1
9. Shade the region to the right of Do this Under the Normal Curve in Step 1
z = 1.28
The shaded region is the upper 10%
10. Describe the shaded region of the normal curve.
Task 4
 Study the steps used in this problem
 Compare the solution with the previous one

Example 3. The results of a nationwide aptitude test in Mathematics

are normally distributed with µ = 80 and σ = 15. What is the
percentile rank of a score of 84?
Analysis: Since we are interested in the percentile rank of 84, this
means finding the percentage of scores below 84. To find the
required area from the z-Table, we transform 84 to z-score form
and then perform the appropriate Mathematical operation.
 STEPS SOLUTION
1. Convert the raw score of 84 𝑋 −𝜇 84 − 80
𝑧= = ≈ 0.27
to z-score form 𝜎 15
2. Find the area that corresponds z = 0.27 corresponds
to z = 0.27 to the area 0.1064

3. Draw the normal curve

showing the z-score

4. Draw a line through z = 0.27

Do this under the normal
Under the Normal Curve in
curve in Step 3
Step 3
5. Shade the required Do this under the normal curve in
region Under the Step 3. The required region is below
Normal Curve in Step 3. z = 0.27 expressed as percentile rank.
6. Examine the shaded First, get the total area below z = 0.27.
regions and decide what That is, 0.5000 + 0.1064 = 0.6064
operation to apply.
7. Compute the percentile Percentile rank of 84
rank of the score 84. = 0.6064 (100) = 60.64 %
The percentile rank of the score 84
8. Make a concluding
in nationwide aptitude test in
statement.
Mathematics is 60.64%
 Notice that there is no prescriptive procedure in the
computation of the z-scores and the probabilities. You
have to analyze the problem carefully and apply what
you have learned about the concepts and procedures
involving the normal curve
 Exercises
A. Find each of the following percentile points under the
normal curve. Complete your procedures
1. P99 2. P32
B. In a job fair, 3000 applicants applied for a job. Their
mean age was found to be 28 with a standard deviation of
4 years.
1. Draw a normal curve distribution showing the z-scores
and the raw scores.
2. How many applicants are below 20 years old?
 Quiz
A. Find each of the following percentile points under the
normal curve. Complete your procedures
1. P68 2. P20

B. In a job fair, 3000 applicants applied for a job. Their mean

age was found to be 28 with a standard deviation of 4
years.
3. How many applicants are above 32 years old?
4. How many have ages between 24 and 32 years?
C. Find the upper 5% of the normal curve.
 Reference

Belecina, R. R., Baccay, E. S., Mateo, E. B. (2016). Statistics and

Probability (1st ed). Manila, Philippines: REX Book Store