LESSON

DETERMINING
4:
PROBABILITIE
S
 The Standard Normal
Curve
It is a normal probability distribution
that has a mean µ = 0 and a standard
deviation σ = 1 unit.

= 1 1
σ σ =
ni t i t
u u n

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
n µ
M ea
Properties of Normal Probability
Distribution
1. The distribution curve is bell- Mean
Media
shaped. n
2. The curve is symmetrical about Mode
Symmetr
y

its center.
50% or 50%
3. The mean, median and mode .5 or .5
coincide at
the center.
4. The tails of the curve flatten out indefinitely along
the
horizontal axis, always approaching the axis but
never
5. The total area
touching under
it. That is, the
the normal curve
curve is is equalto the
asymptotic
to 1 or
base 100%.
line.
 For example, to denote the area between z = 1
and z = 2, we use the notation:

P(1 < z < 2) =

0.1359
which we read as “The probability that
the z-score falls between z = 1 and z = 2
is 0.1359.”
0.341
3

0.477
2 0.135
9

- - - 0 1 2 3 - - - 0 1 2 3
3 2 1 3 2 1
 The Probability Notations
The Normal Curve
Under
The following notations for a random variable are used in
various solutions concerning the normal curve.
Mathematical notations are convenient form of lengthy
expressions. -
P(a < z < denotes the probability that
b) the z-
P(z > - score
denotesis between
the a and
probability b.
that
a) the z-
P(z < - score
denotesis greater
the than a.
probability that
a) the z-
where a score
and b is less
are than a.
z-score
EXAMPLE 1. Find the proportion of the area above z
= -1.
Steps Solution
1. Draw a normal curve.
2. Locate the z-value.
3. Draw a line through the z-value.
4. Shade the required region.
5. Consult the z-Table and find the z = -1 corresponds
area to an area of 0.3413
that corresponds to z = -1. The graph suggest
6. Examine the graph and use The required
addition. area is
equal to 0.3413 + 0.5 =
probability
0.8413.
P(z > -1) = 0.3413 +
notation to form an equation
showing the 0.5 =
appropriate operation to get the 0.8413of the
The proportion
required area above z = -1 is
area. 0.8413
EXAMPLE 2. Find the area to the left of z =
-1.5.
Steps Solution
1. Draw a normal curve.
2. Locate the z-value.
3. Draw a line through the z-value.
4. Shade the required region.
5. Consult the z-Table and find the area z = -1.5 corresponds
that to the area of 0.4332
corresponds to z = -1.5.
The graph suggest
6. Examine the graph and use probability subtraction.
The required area is
notation to
equal to
form an equation showing the
0.5 – <
P(z 0.4332
-1.5)= 0.0668
= 0.5 –
appropriate
operation to get the required area. 0.4332 =
0.0668
The proportion of the
7. Make a statement indicating the area to the left of z = -
required area. 1.5 is 0.0668.
EXAMPLE 3. Find the area between z = -2 and z =
-1.5.
Steps Solution
1. Draw a normal curve.
2. Locate the z-value.
3. Draw a line through the z-value.
4. Shade the required region.
5. Consult the z-Table and find the area z = -2 corresponds to
that z = -1.50.4772
corresponds to
corresponds to z = -1.5 and z = -2. 0.4332
The graph suggest
6. Examine the graph and use probability subtraction.
The required area is
notation to
equal to
form an equation showing the
0.4772
P(-2 < z <–-1.5)
0.4332 =
= 0.4772
appropriate
–0.0440
0.4332 =
operation to get the required area.
0.0440
The required area
7. Make a statement indicating the between
required area. z = -2 and z = -1.5 is
EXERCISE 1. Find the area greater than z
= 1.
Steps Solution
1. Draw a normal curve.
2. Locate the z-value.
3. Draw a line through the z-value.
4. Shade the required region. -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

5. Consult the z-Table and find the z = 1 corresponds to

area an area of __________
that corresponds to z = 1. The graph suggest
6. Examine the graph and use The required area is
___________.
equal to
probability
______________________.
P(z > 1) = _____________
notation to form an equation
showing the = _____________
appropriate operation to get the The proportion of the
required area greater than z = 1 is
area. __________.
EXERCISE 2. Find the area below z = 1.5.

Steps Solution
1. Draw a normal curve.
2. Locate the z-value.
3. Draw a line through the z-value.
4. Shade the required region. -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

5. Consult the z-Table and find the z = 1.5 corresponds to

area the area __________
that corresponds to z = 1.5. The graph suggest
6. Examine the graph and use The required
__________.area is
equal to
probability
______________________.
P(z < 1.5) =
notation to form an equation
showing the = _____________
_____________
appropriate operation to get the The proportion of the
required area to the left of z =
area. 1.5 is __________.
EXERCISE 3. Find the area between z = 0.98 and z
= 2.58.
Steps Solution
1. Draw a normal curve.
2. Locate the z-value.
3. Draw a line through the z-value.
4. Shade the required region. -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

5. Consult the z-Table and find the z = 0.98 corresponds to

area _______
that corresponds to z = 0.98 and z = The
2.58 corresponds
graph suggest to
z = 2.58. _______ _____________.
The required area is equal
6. Examine the graph and use to
______________________.
P(0.98 < z < 2.58) =
probability
notation to form an equation __________ = __________
showing the The area between z =
appropriate operation to get the 0.98 and
required z = 2.58 is ____________.
EXERCISE 4. Find the area between z = -1.32 and z
= 2.37.
Steps Solution
1. Draw a normal curve.
2. Locate the z-value.
3. Draw a line through the z-value.
4. Shade the required region. -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

5. Consult the z-Table and find the z = -1.32 corresponds to

area ______
that corresponds to z = -1.32 z =The
2.37 corresponds
graph suggest to
and z = 2.37. _______ __________.
The required area is equal
6. Examine the graph and use to
______________________.
P(-1.32 < z < 2.37) =
probability
notation to form an equation __________ = __________
showing the The area between z = -
appropriate operation to get the 1.32 and
required z = 2.37 is ____________.
EXERCISES:

Determine each of the following areas and show

these graphically. Use probability notation in your
final answer.
1. above z =
1.46
2. below z = -
0.58
3. between z = - 0.78 and z
= -1.95
4. between z = 0.76 and z
= 2.88
5. between z = - 0.92 and
z = 1.75
EXERCISES:

Determine each of the following areas and show

these graphically. Use probability notation in your
final answer.
6. to the right of z =
1.32
7. to the left of z =
2.78
8. at most z = - 1.5
9. at least z = 1

10. at least z = -2