STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET NUMBER 4

Normal Probability Distributions
NAME OF STUDENT: ________________________________________ ENVELOPE NUMBER _________
GRADE LEVEL: _____________________________________________ DATE: ______________________

I. INTRODUCTORY CONCEPT

Random variables can be either discrete or continuous.

Recall that a discrete variable cannot assume all values between any two given values of the variables.
This is shown in discrete probability distribution where the graph is a histogram which consist of vertical bar
graphs.

On the other hand, a continuous variable can assume all values between any two given values of the
variables. Examples of continuous variables are the height of adult men, body temperature of rats, and
cholesterol level of adults.

Increasing the sample size of a discrete distribution can approximate a continuous distribution for the
whole population. Look at the example below.

This distribution is also known as a bell curve or a Gaussian distribution curve, named for the German
mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777–1855), who derived its equation.

Many continuous variables, such as the examples just mentioned, have distributions that are bell-
shaped, and these are called approximately normally distributed variables.

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 PROPERTIES OF THE NORMAL PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION

1. The distribution curve is bell-shaped.

2. The curve is symmetrical about the mean, which is equivalent to saying that its shape is the
same on both sides of a vertical line passing through the center.
3. The mean, the median and the mode coincide and located at the center.
4. A normal distribution curve is unimodal (i.e., it has only one mode).
5. The curve is continuous; that is, there are no gaps or holes. For each value of X, there is a
corresponding value of Y.
6. The width of the curve is determined by the standard deviation of the distribution.
7. The tails of the curve flatten out indefinitely along the horizontal axis, always approaching the
axis but never touching it. That is, the curve is asymptotic to the base line.
8. The area under the curve is 1 or 100%. Thus, it represents the probability or proportion or the
percentage associated with specific sets of measurement values.
9. The area under the part of a normal curve that lies within 1 standard deviation of the mean is
approximately 0.68, or 68%; within 2 standard deviations, about 0.95, or 95%; and within 3
standard deviations, about 0.997, or 99.7%. See Figure 6–4, which also shows the area in each
region.

Figure 6–5(a) Symmetrical - shape is the same on both sides of a vertical line passing through the center.
- the data values are evenly distributed about the mean
Figure 6–5(b) Negatively or Left-Skewed Distribution
- When the majority of the data values fall to the right of the mean
- The mean and the median are to the left of the mode
Figure 6–5(c) Positively or Right-Skewed Distribution
- When the majority of the data values fall to the left of the mean
- The mean and the median fall to the right of the mode

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 The shape and position of a normal distribution curve depend on two parameters, the mean and
the standard deviation. Each normally distributed variable has its own normal distribution curve, which
depends on the values of the variable’s mean and standard deviation.

Figure 6-3 (a) The higher the standard deviation, the wider is the graph
Figure 6-3 (b) Same standard deviation, the curves are the same

The Standard Normal Distribution is a normal distribution with a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1.

Converting a normal random variable X to a standard normal variable Z

Given the mean, µ = 50 and the standard deviation, σ = 4 of a population of Reading Scores. Find the z-
value that corresponds to a score X = 58.

𝑿−𝝁 𝟓𝟖−𝟓𝟎 𝟖
𝒛= = = =𝟐 Since the given score X = 58 is greater than the mean µ = 50, the z-value
𝝈 𝟒 𝟒
z = 2 is greater than the mean 0 of the standard normal distribution

Locate the z-value that corresponds to a PE score of 39 given that the mean µ = 45 and the standard deviation,
σ = 6.

𝑿−𝝁 𝟑𝟗−𝟒𝟓 −𝟔
𝒛= = = = −𝟏 The given score X = 39 is less than the mean µ = 45, the z-value
𝝈 𝟔 𝟔
z = -1 is less than the mean 0 of the standard normal distribution

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 Converting a standard normal variable Z to a normal random variable X
𝑿 = 𝒁𝝈 + 𝝁

Given the mean, µ = 46 and the standard deviation, σ = 3. Find the normal random variable X that
corresponds to a standard score of Z = -2.

𝑿 = 𝒛𝝈 + 𝝁 = (−𝟐)(𝟑) + 𝟒𝟔 = 𝟒𝟎 Since the given standard score Z = -2 is less than the mean 0,
the value of the random variable X=40 is less than the mean 46.

What is the value of X if the mean, µ = 30, the standard deviation, σ = 4 and the standard score Z = 1.

𝑿 = 𝒛𝝈 + 𝝁 = (𝟏)(𝟒) + 𝟑𝟎 = 𝟑𝟒 The given standard score Z = 1 is greater than the mean 0.

So, the resulting value X = 34 is greater than the mean 30.

Z-TABLE
AREAS UNDER THE NORMAL CURVE

WHAT IS THE USE

OF THE TABLE?

The table is used to

identify the area to
the left or below the
given z value under
the normal curve

HOW TO USE THE

TABLE

• Look for the Z value

at the rows.
• The 2nd decimal is
found at the
columns.
• Locate the number
where the specified
column and row
meet.
Area below z = -2.23
Is 0.0129

EXAMPLES

Area below:
z = -0.40 is 0.3446
z = -0.41 is 0.3409
z = -0.42 is 0.3372
z = -0.43 is 0.3336
z = -0.44 is 0.3300
z = -0.45 is 0.3264
z = -0.46 is 0.3228
z = -0.47 is 0.3192
z = -0.48 is 0.3156
z = -0.49 is 0.3121

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 MORE EXAMPLES

Area below:
z = 1.10 is 0.8643
z = 1.11 is 0.8665
z = 1.12 is 0.8686
z = 1.13 is 0.8708
z = 1.14 is 0.8729
z = 1.15 is 0.8749
z = 1.16 is 0.8770
z = 1.17 is 0.8790
z = 1.18 is 0.8810
z = 1.19 is 0.8830

FINDING AREAS UNDER THE STANDARD NORMAL DISTRIBUTION CURVE

Step 1 Draw the normal distribution curve and shade the area.
Step 2 Find the appropriate figure in the Procedure Table and follow the directions given.

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 EXAMPLE 6-4

Find the area under the curve below X = 3 if µ = 6 and σ = 2.

𝑋−𝜇 3−6 −3
Step 1. Find z: 𝑧= = = − 1.5
𝜎 2 2

Step 2. Draw the figure. The desired area is below z=-1.5

Step 3. Look up the area from the table corresponding to z=-1.5.

Area = 0.0668 or 6.68%

FINDING PROBABILITIES USING STANDARD NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

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 FINDING THE Z-VALUE GIVEN THE AREA UNDER THE CURVE.

APPLICATIONS OF NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

An adult has on average 5.2 liters of blood. Assume the variable is normally distributed and has a standard
deviation of 0.3. Find the percentage of people who have less than 5.4 liters of blood in their system.
Step 1
Draw the normal curve and shade the desired
area (less than 5.4 – to the left of 5.4)

Mean = 5.2 is at the center

X = 5.4 is at the right of the mean

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II. LEARNING SKILLS FROM MELCs

At the end of the week the learners are expected to:

1. Illustrate a normal random variable and its characteristics.
2. Identify regions under the normal curve corresponding to different standard normal values.
3. Convert a normal random variable to a standard normal variable and vice versa.
4. Compute probabilities and percentiles using the standard normal table.

III. Activities

A. Answer the following questions.

1. What are the characteristics of a normal distribution?

2. Why is the standard normal distribution important in statistical analysis?

3. What is the total area under the standard normal distribution curve?

4. What percentage of the area falls below the mean? Above the mean?

5. About what percentage of the area under the normal distribution curve falls within 1 standard deviation
above and below the mean? 2 standard deviations? 3 standard deviations?

6. What are two other names for a normal distribution?

B. Solve for the following.

1. The scores of students in the midyear examination for Mathematics has a mean (µ) of 32 and a
standard deviation (σ) of 5. Find the z-scores corresponding to each of the following using the
𝑿−𝝁
formula, 𝒛 = .
𝝈

a. X = 37

b. X = 22

c. X = 33

d. X = 28

2. Solve for the raw scores(X) in Physics of the following standard scores if the mean score (µ) is 81
and the standard deviation (σ) is 3. Use the formula, 𝑿 = 𝒛𝝈 + 𝝁.

a. Z = -2

b. Z = 0

c. Z = 1

d. Z = 3

C. Draw the normal curve for the following z-scores then find the area under the curve. Use the table
of areas under the normal curve in finding the area.
1. 2.

3. 4.

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5. 6.

7. 8.

D. Draw the normal curve then find the probabilities for each. Use the table of areas under the normal curve
in finding the probability.

1. 2. 3. 4.

E. Find the z value that corresponds to the given area. Use the table of areas under the normal curve in
finding the z-value.

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.

F. Solve the following problem.

The weights of students are normally distributed with a mean of 46 kg and standard deviation of 2.5 kg.
a. How many percent of students weigh less than 45 kg?

b. How many percent of students are heavier than 51.5 kg?

IV. REFERENCES
Statistics and Probability Quarter, RENE R. BELECINA et al, REX Bookstore
Elementary Statistics: A Step by Step Approach 7th & 9th Edition by ALAN G. BLUMAN Mc Graw Hill
Statistics and Probability for Senior High School, RICARDO B. BANIGNON JR. et al Educational Resources Corp.

PREPARED BY: CHECKED BY: NOTED:

JAY ANNE L. BATIANCILA CHRISTIAN O. GOROBAO BRENDAN B. DESTACAMENTO

TEACHER II TEACHER II SCHOOL HEAD/SSHT-1
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