Chapter 5

NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
 Normal Distribution

This section aims to:

 Indicate how the normal distribution can be
used to calculate probabilities;
 Determine the areas of region under the
normal curve;
 Relate and convert z scores to standard
scores; and
 Apply the normal distribution to different
situations.
 Normal Distribution
The Normal Distribution which is a continuous distribution. This is
probably the most important probability distribution. When a
sufficient number of data are collected, the resulting histogram
becomes nearly symmetric. (i.e. split into two equal halves)

By connecting the tops of the

bars of the histogram of the
data we obtain a bell-shape
curve more commonly known
as the Normal Curve.
If a set of data can be modeled
by a normal curve, we can
calculate the portion of the data
in any interval.
 Properties of Normal Curve

1.The normal distribution curve is smooth bell-shaped.

 Properties of Normal Curve

2. The curve is symmetric about the mean.

3. The mean, median and mode are equal and located at
the center of the distribution.
4. Asymptotic: approaching the x-axis but never touches it.
 Properties of Normal Curve

5. The total area under the normal distribution curve is equal

to 1 (0.5 to the left of the mean and 0.5 to the right).
 Normal Distribution

The standard deviation determines the width of the

curve: larger values result in wider, flatter curves.

 = 15

 = 25
x
 The Standard Normal Curve
Since each normally distributed variable has its own
mean and standard deviation, the shape and location of
these curve will vary. Therefore, different tables of values
of areas under each curve will be needed for each
variable.

Mean changes Variance changes

 The Standard Normal Curve

The standard normal distribution is a normal distribution

with a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1.

Standard Deviation 

x
Mean 
 Standardize Normal Distribution
The formula for the standard normal distribution is
All normally distributed variables can be transformed into the
standard normally distributed variable by using the formula for the
standard score:

x 
Normal
Distribution
Standardized
z

Normal
 Distribution
= 1 Where:
x – raw score
 – mean
 - standard deviation

 x = 0 z
 Z Table

Second Decimal Place in Z

Z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09

0.00 0.0000 0.0040 0.0080 0.0120 0.0160 0.0199 0.0239 0.0279 0.0319 0.0359
0.10 0.0398 0.0438 0.0478 0.0517 0.0557 0.0596 0.0636 0.0675 0.0714 0.0753
0.20 0.0793 0.0832 0.0871 0.0910 0.0948 0.0987 0.1026 0.1064 0.1103 0.1141
0.30 0.1179 0.1217 0.1255 0.1293 0.1331 0.1368 0.1406 0.1443 0.1480 0.1517

0.90 0.3159 0.3186 0.3212 0.3238 0.3264 0.3289 0.3315 0.3340 0.3365 0.3389
1.00 0.3413 0.3438 0.3461 0.3485 0.3508 0.3531 0.3554 0.3577 0.3599 0.3621
1.10 0.3643 0.3665 0.3686 0.3708 0.3729 0.3749 0.3770 0.3790 0.3810 0.3830
1.20 0.3849 0.3869 0.3888 0.3907 0.3925 0.3944 0.3962 0.3980 0.3997 0.4015

2.00 0.4772 0.4778 0.4783 0.4788 0.4793 0.4798 0.4803 0.4808 0.4812 0.4817

3.00 0.4987 0.4987 0.4987 0.4988 0.4988 0.4989 0.4989 0.4989 0.4990 0.4990
3.40 0.4997 0.4997 0.4997 0.4997 0.4997 0.4997 0.4997 0.4997 0.4997 0.4998
3.50 0.4998 0.4998 0.4998 0.4998 0.4998 0.4998 0.4998 0.4998 0.4998 0.4998
 Standardize Normal Distribution
Calculate the following probabilities using z-table:
1. P (0 Z 1)
P (0 Z 1)  0.3413
Z 0.00 0.01 0.02

0.00 0.0000 0.0040 0.0080

0.10 0.0398 0.0438 0.0478
0.20 0.0793 0.0832 0.0871

1.00 0.3413 0.3438 0.3461

1.10 0.3643 0.3665 0.3686

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
1.20 0.3849 0.3869 0.3888
 Standardize Normal Distribution
2. P(0 < z < 1.96)
P(0 < z < 1.96) = 0.4750
Z .04 .05 .06 =1
1.8 .4671 .4678 .4686
.4750
1.9.4738 .4744 .4750
2.0 .4793 .4798 .4803
= 0 1.96 z
2.1 .4838 .4842 .4846
Probabilities
 Standardize Normal Distribution
3. P(–1.26  z  1.26)
=1
.3962 .3962

–1.26 1.26 z
=0
P(–1.26 ≤ z ≤ 1.26) = .3962 + .3962
P(–1.26 ≤ z ≤ 1.26) = .7924
Standardize Normal Distribution
4. P(z > 1.26) =1
.500
0
.3962

1.26 z
=0
P(z > 1.26) = .5000 – .3962
P(z > 1.26) = .1038
 Standardize Normal Distribution

5. P(–2.78  z  –2.00) =1

.4973

.4772

–2.78 –2.00 z
=0

P(–2.78 ≤ z ≤ –2.00) = .4973 – .4772

P(–2.78 ≤ z ≤ –2.00) = .0201
 Standardize Normal Distribution

6. P(z > –2.13) =1

.4834 .5000

–2.13 z
=0
P(z > –2.13) = .4834 + .5000
P(z > –2.13) = .9834
 Standardize Normal Distribution
7. X is normally distributed with  = 485, and  = 105
find P(485 X 600).

P(485  X 600)  P (0 Z 1.10)  0.3643

For X = 485, Z 0.00 0.01 0.02
X -  485  485 0.00 0.0000 0.0040 0.0080
Z=  0
 105 0.10 0.0398 0.0438 0.0478

1.00 0.3413 0.3438 0.3461

For X = 600,
X- 600  485 1.10 1.10 0.3643 0.3665 0.3686
Z= 
 105 1.20 0.3849 0.3869 0.3888
 Standardize Normal Distribution

Suppose that a random variable X is normally

distributed with a mean of 10 and a standard
deviation of 2.

a. What is the probability that X is greater than 12?

b. What is the probability that X is between 6 and 14?

 Standardize Normal Distribution

a. What is the probability that X is greater than 12?

P ( X  12) 12  10
P ( X  12)  1
2
X
10 12 P( Z  1) 0.5  0.3413 0.1587

P ( Z  1) Therefore ,
P ( X  12) P( Z  1) 0.1587
Z
0 1
 b. What is the probability that X is between 6 and 14?

P(6  X  14) :

P(6  X  14) 6  10
P ( X  6)   2
2
14  10
P ( X  14)  2
X 2
6 10 14 P(6  X  14) P ( 2  Z  2) :
P ( 2  Z  2) 0.4772  0.4772
P( 2  Z  2)
P( 2  Z  2) 0.9544
Therefore ,
Z P (6  X  14) P ( 2  Z  2) 0.9544
2 0 2
 Solution:

(d) The area between z = –0.30 and z = 2.25

may be found by adding the area between z =
– 0.30 and z = 0 to the area between z = 0 and
z = 2.25. The area between z = – 0.30 and z =
0 equals the area between z = 0 and z = + 0.30
(by symmetry).

The area between z = 0 and z = 0.30 is 0.1179.

The area between z = 0 and z = 2.25 is 0.4878.
Therefore, the required area is 0.1179 + 0.4878
= 0.6057.
 Applications of the Normal
Distribution

The weights of packages of ground beef are normally

distributed with mean 1 pound and standard
deviation .10. What is the probability that a randomly
selected package weighs between 0.80 and 0.85
pounds?
 Applications of the Normal
Distribution

P (.80  x  .85) :
.80  1
P( x  0.80)   2
.1
.85  1
P ( x  0.85)   1.5
.1
P ( 2  z   1.5) :
P( 2  z   1.5)  0.4772  0.4332
P( 2  z   1.5) 0.0440
Therefore , P(.80  x  .85) P( 2  z   1.5) 0.0440
 Applications of the Normal Distribution

You work in Quality Control for GE. Light

bulb life has a normal distribution with =
2000 hours and = 200 hours. What’s the
probability that a bulb will last
a. between 2000 and 2400 hours?
b. less than 1470 hours?

Given:
= 2000 hours
= 200 hours
 a. between 2000 and 2400 hours?

Normal Standardized Normal

Distribution Distribution

 = 200
= 1

.4772
Solution:

P ( 2 , 000x 2 , 500 ): = 2000 2400 x  = 0 2.0 z

2000  2000
P ( x 2 , 000 )  0 P ( 0z 2 ):
200

2400  2000 P(0  z  2) 0.4772

P ( x  2 , 400 )  2
200
 b. less than 1470 hours?

Normal Standardized
Distribution Normal
Distribution

 = 200 = 1

.5000
.0040
Solution: .4960

P ( x  1, 470 ) : 1470  = 2000 x –2.65  = 0 z

1470  2000
P ( x  1.470 )    2.65
200
P ( z   2.65 ) :

P( z   2.65) 0.5  0.4960  0.0040

 Applications of the Normal Distribution

A consultant was investigating the time it took factory workers in a

car factory to assemble a particular part after the workers had
been trained to perform the task using an individual learning
approach. The consultant determined that the time in seconds to
assemble the part for workers trained with this method was
normally distributed with a mean of 75 seconds and a standard
deviation of 6 seconds.
a. What is the probability that a randomly selected factory worker
can assemble the part in under 60 seconds?
b. What is the probability that a randomly selected worker can
assemble the part in under 80 seconds?
c. What is the probability that a randomly selected worker can
assemble the part in 65 to 75 seconds?
a. What is the probability that a randomly selected factory
worker can assemble the part in under 60 seconds?

P ( X  60)
 60  75 
P  Z  
 6  X
60 75
P ( Z   2.5)
0.5  0.4938
0.0062

Z
 2.5 0
b. What is the probability that a randomly
selected worker can assemble the part in
under 80 seconds?

P ( X  80)
 80  75 
P  Z  
 6  X
75 80
P ( Z  0.83)
0.5  0.2967
0.7967
Z
0 0.83
 c. What is the probability that a randomly
selected worker can assemble the part in 65 to
75 seconds?

P (65  X  75)
 65  75 75  75 
P  Z  
 6 6 
P ( 1.67  Z  0) 65 75 X
0.4525

 1.67 0 Z

31
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