11.

1 Using Normal Distributions

Essential Question In a normal distribution, about what percent of
the data lies within one, two, and three standard deviations of the mean?
Recall that the standard deviation σ of a numerical data set is given by

√
————
(x1 − μ)2 + (x2 − μ)2 + . . . +(xn − μ)2
σ = ————
n
where n is the number of values in the data set and μ is the mean of the data set.

Analyzing a Normal Distribution

Work with a partner. In many naturally occurring data sets, the histogram of the
data is bell-shaped. In statistics, such data sets are said to have a normal distribution.
For the normal distribution shown below, estimate the percent of the data that lies
within one, two, and three standard deviations of the mean. Each square on the grid
represents 1%.

μ − 3σ μ − 2σ μ − 1σ μ μ + 1σ μ + 2σ μ + 3σ
MODELING WITH
MATHEMATICS Analyzing a Data Set
To be proficient in
math, you need to Work with a partner. A famous data Scottish Militiamen
analyze relationships set was collected in Scotland in the
mathematically to mid-1800s. It contains the chest sizes 1200
μ = 40 in.
draw conclusions. (in inches) of 5738 men in the Scottish σ = 2 in.
Militia. Do the data fit a normal 1000

distribution? Explain.
Frequency

800
Chest size Number of men
33 3 600
34 18
35 81 400
36 185
200
37 420
38 749 0
39 1073 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47

40 1079 Chest size (inches)

41 934
42 658
43 370
44 92 Communicate Your Answer
45 50
46 21 3. In a normal distribution, about what percent of the data lies within one, two, and
47 4 three standard deviations of the mean?
48 1 4. Use the Internet or some other reference to find another data set that is normally
distributed. Display your data in a histogram.

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 11.1 Lesson What You Will Learn
Calculate probabilities using normal distributions.
Use z-scores and the standard normal table to find probabilities.
Core Vocabul
Vocabulary
larry Recognize data sets that are normal.
normal distribution, p. 596
normal curve, p. 596
Normal Distributions
standard normal distribution,
p. 597 You have studied probability distributions. One type of probability distribution is a
normal distribution. The graph of a normal distribution is a bell-shaped curve called
z-score, p. 597
a normal curve that is symmetric about the mean.
Previous
probability distribution
symmetric
mean Core Concept
standard deviation Areas Under a Normal Curve
skewed
A normal distribution with mean μ (the Greek letter mu) and standard deviation
median
σ (the Greek letter sigma) has these properties.
• The total area under the related normal curve is 1.
• About 68% of the area lies within 1 standard deviation of the mean.
USING A • About 95% of the area lies within 2 standard deviations of the mean.
GRAPHING • About 99.7% of the area lies within 3 standard deviations of the mean.
CALCULATOR
A graphing calculator can 34% 34%
be used to find areas under 68%
normal curves. For example, 95% 13.5% 13.5%
the normal distribution 2.35% 2.35%
99.7% 0.15% 0.15%
shown below has mean 0
and standard deviation 1. σ σ σ μ σ σ σx σ σ σ μ σ σ σx
2

2
3

2
3

3
+

+
−

μ μ μ μ
+

+
−

−
+

+
The graphing calculator μ μ μ μ μ μ μ μ
screen shows that the area
within 1 standard deviation
of the mean is about 0.68, From the second bulleted statement above and the symmetry of a normal curve, you
or 68%. can deduce that 34% of the area lies within 1 standard deviation to the left of the
0.5 mean, and 34% of the area lies within 1 standard deviation to the right of the mean.
The second diagram above shows other partial areas based on the properties of a
normal curve.
The areas under a normal curve can be interpreted as probabilities in a normal
−3 3 distribution. So, in a normal distribution, the probability that a randomly chosen
Area=.682689 x-value is between a and b is given by the area under the normal curve between
low=-1 up=1 a and b.
−0.2

Finding a Normal Probability

A normal distribution has mean μ and standard deviation σ. An x-value is randomly

selected from the distribution. Find P(μ − 2σ ≤ x ≤ μ).
34%
SOLUTION
The probability that a randomly selected 13.5%
x-value lies between μ − 2σ and μ is the
shaded area under the normal curve shown.
σ σ σ μ σ σ σx
2
3

3
−

P(μ − 2σ ≤ x ≤ μ) = 0.135 + 0.34 = 0.475 μ μ

+
−

μ μ μ μ

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 Interpreting Normally Distributed Data

The scores for a state’s peace officer standards and training test are normally
distributed with a mean of 55 and a standard deviation of 12. The test scores
range from 0 to 100.
a. About what percent of the people taking the test have scores between 43 and 67?
b. An agency in the state will only hire applicants with test scores of 67 or greater.
About what percent of the people have test scores that make them eligible to be
hired by the agency?

SOLUTION
Check a. The scores of 43 and 67 represent one 68%
a. standard deviation on either side of the
mean, as shown. So, about 68% of
the people taking the test have scores
between 43 and 67.

19 91 19 31 43 55 67 79 91 x
Area=.682689 Test scores
low=43 up=67
b. A score of 67 is one standard deviation
b.
to the right of the mean, as shown. So,
the percent of the people who have
test scores that make them eligible to 16%
be hired by the agency is about
19 91
13.5% + 2.35% + 0.15%, or 16%. 19 31 43 55 67 79 91 x
Area=.158567 Test scores
low=67 up=100

Monitoring Progress Help in English and Spanish at BigIdeasMath.com

A normal distribution has mean 𝛍 and standard deviation 𝛔. Find the indicated
probability for a randomly selected x-value from the distribution.

1. P(x ≤ μ) 2. P(x ≥ μ)
3. P(μ ≤ x ≤ μ + 2σ) 4. P(μ − σ ≤ x ≤ μ)
5. P(x ≤ μ − 3σ) 6. P(x ≥ μ + σ)
7. WHAT IF? In Example 2, about what percent of the people taking the test have
scores between 43 and 79?

The Standard Normal Distribution

The standard normal distribution is the normal distribution with mean 0 and
standard deviation 1. The formula below can be used to transform x-values from a
normal distribution with mean μ and standard deviation σ into z-values having a
standard normal distribution.
x−μ Subtract the mean from the given x-value,
Formula z = —
σ then divide by the standard deviation.

x
The z-value for a particular x-value is called the z-score for the x-value and is the
1

2
3

3
1
−
−

=
=

number of standard deviations the x-value lies above or below the mean μ.
=
=

z
z
z
z

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 For a randomly selected z-value from a standard normal distribution, you can use the
table below to find the probability that z is less than or equal to a given value. For
READING example, the table shows that P(z ≤ −0.4) = 0.3446. You can find the value of
In the table, the value P(z ≤ −0.4) in the table by finding the value where row −0 and column .4 intersect.
.0000+ means “slightly
more than 0” and the Standard Normal Table
value 1.0000− means
z .0 .1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9
“slightly less than 1.”
−3 .0013 .0010 .0007 .0005 .0003 .0002 .0002 .0001 .0001 .0000+
−2 .0228 .0179 .0139 .0107 .0082 .0062 .0047 .0035 .0026 .0019
−1 .1587 .1357 .1151 .0968 .0808 .0668 .0548 .0446 .0359 .0287
−0 .5000 .4602 .4207 .3821 .3446 .3085 .2743 .2420 .2119 .1841
0 .5000 .5398 .5793 .6179 .6554 .6915 .7257 .7580 .7881 .8159
1 .8413 .8643 .8849 .9032 .9192 .9332 .9452 .9554 .9641 .9713
2 .9772 .9821 .9861 .9893 .9918 .9938 .9953 .9965 .9974 .9981
3 .9987 .9990 .9993 .9995 .9997 .9998 .9998 .9999 .9999 1.0000−

You can also use the standard normal table to find probabilities for any normal
distribution by first converting values from the distribution to z-scores.

Using a z-Score and the Standard Normal Table

A study finds that the weights of infants at birth are normally distributed with a mean
oof 3270 grams and a standard deviation of 600 grams. An infant is randomly chosen.
What is the probability that the infant weighs 4170 grams or less?
W

SOLUTION
Step 1 Find the z-score corresponding to an x-value of 4170.
S
x − μ 4170 − 3270
z = — = —— = 1.5
σ 600
Step 2 Use the table to find P(z ≤ 1.5). The table shows that P(z ≤ 1.5) = 0.9332.
S

Standard Normal Table

z .0 .1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9
−3 .0013 .0010 .0007 .0005 .0003 .0002 .0002 .0001 .0001 .0000+
STUDY TIP −2 .0228 .0179 .0139 .0107 .0082 .0062 .0047 .0035 .0026 .0019
When n% of the data are −1 .1587 .1357 .1151 .0968 .0808 .0668 .0548 .0446 .0359 .0287
less than or equal to a
certain value, that value is −0 .5000 .4602 .4207 .3821 .3446 .3085 .2743 .2420 .2119 .1841
called the nth percentile. 0 .5000 .5398 .5793 .6179 .6554 .6915 .7257 .7580 .7881 .8159
In Example 3, a weight
1 .8413 .8643 .8849 .9032 .9192 .9332 .9452 .9554 .9641 .9713
of 4170 grams is the
93rd percentile.
So, the probability that the infant weighs 4170 grams or less is about 0.9332.

Monitoring Progress Help in English and Spanish at BigIdeasMath.com

8. WHAT IF? In Example 3, what is the probability that the infant weighs
3990 grams or more?
9. Explain why it makes sense that P(z ≤ 0) = 0.5.

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 Recognizing Normal Distributions
Not all distributions are normal. For instance, consider the histograms shown below.
The first histogram has a normal distribution. Notice that it is bell-shaped and
symmetric. Recall that a distribution is symmetric when you can draw a vertical line
that divides the histogram into two parts that are mirror images. Some distributions are
skewed. The second histogram is skewed left and the third histogram is skewed right.
The second and third histograms do not have normal distributions.
UNDERSTANDING
MATHEMATICAL
TERMS
Be sure you understand
that you cannot use
a normal distribution
to interpret skewed mean mean median median mean
distributions. The areas
Bell-shaped and Skewed left Skewed right
under a normal curve
symmetric • histogram does not • histogram does
do not correspond to
• histogram has a have a normal not have a normal
the areas of a skewed
normal distribution distribution distribution
distribution.
• mean = median • mean < median • mean > median

Recognizing Normal Distributions

Determine whether each histogram has a normal distribution.

a. Heights of Women in the U.S., b. Population of Brazil
Ages 20–29

Relative frequency
0.16
Relative frequency

0.15
0.12
0.10
0.08
0.05
0.04
0
58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74 0
10 −9
20 19
30 9
40 39
50 49
60 9
70 69
80 79
9
+
−2

−5

−8
Height (inches)

90
−

−
−

−
−
0

Age (years)
SOLUTION
a. The histogram is bell-shaped and fairly symmetric. So, the histogram has an
approximately normal distribution.
b. The histogram is skewed right. So, the histogram does not have a normal
distribution, and you cannot use a normal distribution to interpret the histogram.

Monitoring Progress Help in English and Spanish at BigIdeasMath.com

10. Determine whether the histogram Math Quiz Scores

has a normal distribution.
Relative frequency

0.30

0.20

0.10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Score

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 11.1 Exercises Dynamic Solutions available at BigIdeasMath.com

Vocabulary and Core Concept Check

1. WRITING Describe how to use the standard normal table to find P(z ≤ 1.4).

2. WHICH ONE DOESN’T BELONG? Which histogram does not belong with the other three? Explain
your reasoning.

Monitoring Progress and Modeling with Mathematics

ATTENDING TO PRECISION In Exercises 3–6, give the In Exercises 7–12, a normal distribution has mean
percent of the area under the normal curve represented 𝛍 and standard deviation 𝛔. Find the indicated
by the shaded region(s). probability for a randomly selected x-value from
the distribution. (See Example 1.)
3.
7. P(x ≤ μ − σ) 8. P(x ≥ μ − σ)

9. P(x ≥ μ + 2σ) 10. P(x ≤ μ + σ)

μ 11. P(μ − σ ≤ x ≤ μ + σ) 12. P(μ − 3σ ≤ x ≤ μ)

4.
In Exercises 13–18, a normal distribution has a mean of
33 and a standard deviation of 4. Find the probability
that a randomly selected x-value from the distribution
is in the given interval.
σ σ 13. between 29 and 37 14. between 33 and 45
3

μ
−

μ
15. at least 25 16. at least 29
5.
17. at most 37 18. at most 21

19. PROBLEM SOLVING The

wing lengths of houseflies
σ
are normally distributed with
2
+

μ a mean of 4.6 millimeters

6. and a standard deviation of
0.4 millimeter. (See Example 2.)
a. About what percent
of houseflies have wing length
wing lengths between
σ σ σ σ 3.8 millimeters and 5.0 millimeters?
2
2

μ μ
+
−

μ μ
b. About what percent of houseflies have wing
lengths longer than 5.8 millimeters?

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 20. PROBLEM SOLVING The times a fire department takes 24. PROBLEM SOLVING Scientists conducted aerial
to arrive at the scene of an emergency are normally surveys of a seal sanctuary and recorded the number
distributed with a mean of 6 minutes and a standard x of seals they observed during each survey. The
deviation of 1 minute. numbers of seals observed were normally distributed
with a mean of 73 seals and a standard deviation of
a. For about what percent of emergencies does the
14.1 seals. Find the probability that at most 50 seals
fire department arrive at the scene in 8 minutes
were observed during a randomly chosen survey.
or less?
b. The goal of the fire department is to reach the
scene of an emergency in 5 minutes or less. About
what percent of the time does the fire department
achieve its goal?

ERROR ANALYSIS In Exercises 21 and 22, a normal

distribution has a mean of 25 and a standard deviation
of 2. Describe and correct the error in finding the
probability that a randomly selected x-value is in the
given interval. In Exercises 25 and 26, determine whether the
histogram has a normal distribution. (See Example 4.)
21. between 23 and 27
25. U.S. Employment, Ages 40–74

✗
Frequency (millions)
16

12

8
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
4
The probability that x is between
0
23 and 27 is 0.95.
4

4
−4

−4

−5

−5

−6

−6

−7
40

45

50

55

60

65

70
Age (years)
22. at least 21

✗
26. Time to Complete an Exam
8

6
Frequency

4
19 21 23 25 27 29 31
2
The probability that x is at least 21
is 0.0015 + 0.0235 = 0.025. 0
40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
Time (minutes)
23. PROBLEM SOLVING A busy time to visit a bank is
during its Friday evening rush hours. For these hours, 27. ANALYZING RELATIONSHIPS
the waiting times at the drive-through window are The table shows the
normally distributed with a mean of 8 minutes and a Tickets sold Frequency
numbers of tickets
standard deviation of 2 minutes. You have no more that are sold for 150–189 1
than 11 minutes to do your banking and still make it various baseball
to your meeting on time. What is the probability that games in a league 190–229 2
you will be late for the meeting? (See Example 3.) over an entire season. 230–269 4
Display the data in a
histogram. Do the 270 –309 8
data fit a normal
310–349 8
distribution? Explain.
350–389 7

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 28. PROBLEM SOLVING The guayule plant, which grows 31. REASONING For normally distributed data, describe
in the southwestern United States and in Mexico, is the value that represents the 84th percentile in terms
one of several plants that can be used as a source of of the mean and standard deviation.
rubber. In a large group of guayule plants, the heights
of the plants are normally distributed with a mean of
32. HOW DO YOU SEE IT? In the figure, the shaded
12 inches and a standard deviation of 2 inches.
region represents 47.5% of the area under a normal
curve. What are the mean and standard deviation of
the normal distribution?

13 16
a. What percent of the plants are taller than
16 inches?
33. DRAWING CONCLUSIONS You take both the SAT
b. What percent of the plants are at most 13 inches?
(Scholastic Aptitude Test) and the ACT (American
c. What percent of the plants are between 7 inches College Test). You score 650 on the mathematics
and 14 inches? section of the SAT and 29 on the mathematics section
of the ACT. The SAT test scores and the ACT test
d. What percent of the plants are at least 3 inches
scores are each normally distributed. For the SAT,
taller than or at least 3 inches shorter than the
the mean is 514 and the standard deviation is 118.
mean height?
For the ACT, the mean is 21.0 and the standard
deviation is 5.3.
29. REASONING Boxes of cereal are filled by a machine.
Tests show that the amount of cereal in each box a. What percentile is your SAT math score?
varies. The weights are normally distributed with a
b. What percentile is your ACT math score?
mean of 20 ounces and a standard deviation of 0.25
ounce. Four boxes of cereal are randomly chosen. c. On which test did you perform better? Explain
your reasoning.
a. What is the probability that all four boxes contain
no more than 19.4 ounces of cereal?
34. WRITING Explain how you can convert ACT scores
b. Do you think the machine is functioning properly? into corresponding SAT scores when you know the
Explain. mean and standard deviation of each distribution.

35. MAKING AN ARGUMENT A data set has a median

30. THOUGHT PROVOKING Sketch the graph of the
of 80 and a mean of 90. Your friend claims that the
standard normal distribution function, given by
distribution of the data is skewed left. Is your friend
1 −x2/2 correct? Explain your reasoning.
f (x) = — —e .
√ 2π
Estimate the area of the region bounded by the 36. CRITICAL THINKING The average scores on a statistics
x-axis, the graph of f, and the vertical lines x = −3 test are normally distributed with a mean of 75 and a
and x = 3. standard deviation of 10. You randomly select a test
score x. Find P( ∣ x − μ ∣ ≥ 15 ).

Maintaining Mathematical Proficiency Reviewing what you learned in previous grades and lessons

Graph the function. Identify the x-intercepts and the points where the local maximums
and local minimums occur. Determine the intervals for which the function is increasing
or decreasing. (Section 4.8)
1
37. f (x) = x 3 − 4x2 + 5 38. g(x) = —4 x4 − 2x2 − x − 3
39. h(x) = −0.5x 2 + 3x + 7 40. f (x) = −x 4 + 6x2 − 13

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