NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

9.1 PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION 4. Given a normal distribution with µ = 40 and σ = 6, find the value
A probability distribution consists of all possible values of a of x that has (a) 38% of the area below it and (b) 5 % of the area
random variable (discrete or continuous) with their corresponding
above it.
probabilities. This probability distribution may be presented using a
table, a mathematical function f (x), or a graph. 9.4 APPLICATIONS OF THE NORMAL CURVE
1. The waiters in a restaurant receive an average tip of $20 per table
9.2 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION with a standard deviation of $5. The amounts of tips are normally
The normal distribution is one of the most popular and useful distributed, and a waiter feels that he has provided excellent
continuous probability distributions. The probability function is given service if the tip is more than $25. What is the probability that a
by a rather complex formula waiter has provided excellent service to a table?
2 2. The average score in a statistics examination is 65 (out of 100)
e−α 1 x−μ
f (x )=
σ √2 π
; α=
[ ( )]
2 σ
; for −¿<x <¿
The normal distribution is specified completely when values for
with a standard deviation of 10. What is the probability that a
student has a score between 50 and 80?
3. A company pays its employees an average wage of $22.50 an
the mean and the standard deviation are known. Differing values of hour with a standard deviation of $2.30. If the wages are
the mean with the same standard deviation will simply shift the center approximately normally distributed and paid to the nearest
of the normal distribution but the overall shape remains the same. On centavos,
the other hand, when the standard deviation is varied, the normal a) what percentage of the workers receive wages between $20 and
curve either flattens out or becomes steeper. As the standard deviation $23.50?
becomes smaller, the normal distribution becomes steeper. When the b) the highest 5% of the employees hourly wages are greater than
standard deviation becomes larger, the normal distribution has what amount?
tendency to flatten out or become broader. Supplementary Problems
The graph of a normal distribution is called the normal curve. 1. Given a normal distribution with µ = 40 and σ = 6 find
The normal curve is the bell-shaped curve. It is often referred to as the a) The area below 32
Gaussian distribution in honor of Gauss who derived the equation b) The area above 27
from the study of errors in repeated measurements of the same c) The area between 42 and 51
quantity. d) The x value that has 45% of the area below it
Characteristics of a Normal Curve e) The x value that has 13% of the area above it
1. The mode and median occur at µ. 2. If a random variable has the standard normal distribution, what
2. The curve is symmetric about the vertical axis through the mean are the probabilities that it will take on a value
µ. a) Less than 1.64
3. The normal curve is asymptotic to the horizontal axis on both b) Greater than – 0.47
sides. c) Greater than 0.76
4. The total area under the curve and above the horizontal axis is d) Less than –1.35
equal to 1. e) Between 0.95 and 1.36
5. The probability that the normal random variable is equal to a f) Between –0.45 and 0.65
specific discrete value is always zero, since the normal random 3. A random variable has a normal distribution with a standard
variable is continuous. deviation of 9.0. If the probability of the random variable will
6. The probability that the normal random variable is between two take a value less than 64 is 0.8413, what is the probability that it
values is given by the area under the curve between the two given will take on value greater than 80?
values and the horizontal axis. 4. IQ scores are normally distributed with a mean of 100 and a
standard deviation of 5, what is the probability that a person
9.3 STANDARD NORMAL DISTRIBUTION chosen at random will have an IQ score greater than 110?
The distribution of a normal random variable with mean zero and 5. Suppose family incomes in a town are normally distributed with
a standard deviation equal to 1 is called a standard normal a mean of P25000 and a standard deviation of P6000 per month.
distribution. What is the probability that a family has an income between
The key to working with normal distribution is the standard P14,000 and P32,500?
x−μ x−x́ 6. On an examination, the average grade was 75 and the standard
score, z , given by the formula z= or z= . deviation was seven. If 12% of the class is given A’s, 25% of the
σ s class is given B’s, and the grades are normally distributed, what
The z -score is the number of standard deviations of a specific are the lowest possible values of A and the highest possible B,
value x from the mean of the distribution. the lowest possible value of B and the highest possible value of
C?
Examples: 7. The amount of time required per individual at a bank teller’s
window has been found to be approximately normally distributed
1. Find the area under the normal curve to the right of z=1.52.
with x́=¿ 130 sec and s=¿ 45 sec. What is the probability that
2. Given the normal distribution with a mean of 50 and a standard
a randomly selected individual will
deviation of 10. Find the probability that x assumes a value
(a) require less than 100 sec to complete a transaction?
between 45 and 62. (b) spend between 2.0 and 3.0 min at the teller’s window?
3. Find the area between z=– 1.3 and z=1.3 .

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