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XL: How to Create a Bell Curve Chart

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This article was previously published under Q213930

SUMMARY
A bell curve is a plot of normal distribution of a given data set. This article
describes how you can create a chart of a bell curve in Microsoft Excel.

MORE INFORMATION
In the following example you can create a bell curve of data generated by Excel
using the Random Number Generation tool in the Analysis ToolPak. After
Microsoft Excel generates a set of random numbers, you can create a histogram
using those random numbers and the Histogram tool from the Analysis ToolPak.
From the histogram, you can create a chart to represent a bell curve.

To create a sample bell curve, follow these steps:

1. Start Excel.
2. Enter the following column headings in a new worksheet:

3.

A1:Original B1:Average C1:Bin D1:Random

E1:Histogram G1:Histogram

4. Enter the following data in the same worksheet:

5.

A2: 23

B2:

6.

A3: 25

B3: STDEV

7.

A4: 12

B4:

8.

A5: 24

9.

A6: 27

10.

A7: 57

11.

A8: 45

12.

A9: 19

13.

Enter the following formulas in the same worksheet:

14.

B2: =AVERAGE(A2:A9)

15.

B3:

16.

B4: =STDEV(A2:A9)

These formulas will generate the average (mean) and standard deviation of the
original data, respectively.
17.
Enter the following formulas to generate the bin range
for the histogram:

18.

C2: =$B$2-3*$B4

This generates the lower limit of the bin range. This number represents three
standard deviations less than the average.

C3: =C2+$B$4

This formula adds one standard deviation to the number calculated in the cell
above.

19.
Select Cell C3, grab the fill handle, and then fill the
formula down from cell C3 to cell C8.
20.
To generate the random data that will form the basis for
the bell curve, follow these steps:
a. On the Tools menu, click Data Analysis.
b. In the Analysis Tools box, click Random Number
Generation, and then click OK.
c. In the Number of Variables box, type 1.
d. In the Number of Random Numbers box, type 2000.
NOTE: Varying this number will increase or decrease the
accuracy of the bell curve.
e. In the Distribution box, select Normal.
f. In the Parameters pane, enter the number calculated in
cell B2 (29 in the example) in the Mean box.
g. In the Standard Deviation box enter the number
calculated in cell B4 (14.68722).
h. Leave the Random Seed box blank.
i. In the Output Options pane, click Output Range.
j. Type D2 in the Output Range box.
This will generate 2,000 random numbers that fit in a
normal distribution.
k. Click OK.
21.
To create a histogram for the random data, follow these
steps:
a. On the Tools menu, click Data Analysis.

b. In the Analysis Tools box, select Histogram, and then

click OK.
c. In the Input Range box, type D2:D2001.
d. In the Bin Range box, type C2:C8.
e. In the Output Options pane, click Output Range.
f. Type E2 in the Output Range box.
g. Click OK.
22.
To create a histogram for the original data, follow these
steps:
a. On the Tools menu, click Data Analysis.
b. Click Histogram, and then click OK.
c. In the Input Range box, type A2:A9.
d. In the Bin Range box, type C2:C8.
e. In the Output Options pane, click Output Range.
f. Type G2 in the Output Range box.
g. Click OK.
23.
Create labels for the legend in the chart by entering the
following:

24.

E14: =G1&"-"&G2

25.

E15: =E1&"-"&F2

26.

E16: =G1&"-"&H2

27.

Select the range of cells, E2:H10, on the worksheet.

28.

On the Insert menu, click Chart.

29.

Under Chart type, click XY (Scatter).

30.
Under Chart sub-type, in the middle row, click the
chart on the right.
NOTE: Just below these 5 sub-types, the description will
say "Scatter with data points connected by smoothed lines
without markers."
31.

Click Next.

32.

Click the Series tab.

33.
In the Name box, delete the cell reference, and then
select cell E15.
34.
In the X Values box, delete the range reference, and
then select the range E3:E10.
35.
In the Y Values box, delete the range reference, and
then select the range F3:F10.
36.

Click Add to add another series.

37.

Click the Name box, and then select cell E14.

38.
Click the X Values box, and then select the range
E3:E10.
39.
In the Y Values box, delete the value that's there, and
then select the range G3:G10.
40.

Click Add to add another series.

41.

Click the Name box, and then select cell E16.

42.
Click the X Values box, and then select the range
E3:E10.
43.
Click the Y Values box, delete the value that's there,
and then select the range H3:H10.
44.

Click Finish.

The chart will have two curved series and a flat series
along the x-axis.
45.
Double-click the second series; it should be labeled "Bin" in the legend.
46.
In the Format Data Series dialog box, click
the Axis tab.
47.
Click Secondary Axis, and then click OK.
You now have a chart that compares a given data set to a bell curve.