NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

Also called normal curve, is distribution of data A standard normal curve is a

where the mean, median, and mode are equal, the probability distribution that
distribution is clustered at the center, the graph is a has a mean 𝜇 = 0 and a
bell-shaped curve, and symmetrical. standard deviation 𝜎 = 1.

Properties of Normal Curve

1. The distribution curve is bell-shaped.

2. The curve is symmetrical about its center.

3. The mean, median, and the mode coincide at the

center.

4. The width of the curve is determined by the standard

deviation of the distribution.

5. 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.

6. The area under the curve is 1. Thus, it represents the

probability or proportion or the percentage
associated with specific sets of measurement values.

EXAMPLE 1: Given the mean 𝜇 = 50 and the standard deviation, 𝜎 = 4 of a

The z-score population of Reading scores. Find the 𝑧-value that corresponds to a
score X = 58.
Solution:
The areas under the normal curve are 𝑥−𝜇
given in terms of 𝑧-values or scores. 𝑧=
𝜎
58 − 50
𝒙−𝝁 𝑧=
𝒛= 20
𝝈 𝑧=𝟐
38 42 46 50 54 58 62
Where: 𝑋 = given measurement
𝜇 = population mean
𝜎 = standard deviation
1.𝜇 = 45, 𝜎 = 6, X = 39 z = -1 Below

2.𝜇 = 40, 𝜎 = 8, X = 52 z = 1.5 Above

3.𝜇 = 75, 𝜎 = 15, X = 82 z = 0.47 Above

EXAMPLE 3: Find the area under the standard normal curve between 𝑧 = 0 and the following 𝑧-scores. (use the Table of
Areas under the Normal Curve)

a. 𝑧 = 0.96 or P (0 < 𝑧 < 0.96)

Step 1: Express the z-value into 3-digits.

Step 2: In the table, find the first two digits on the row

Step 3: Match the third digit with the appropriate

column heading

Step 4: Read the area (or probability) at the

intersection of the row and the column

b. 𝑧 = 1.45 or P (0 < 𝑧 < 1.45) d. 𝑧 = -1.89 or P (-1.89 < 𝑧 < 0)

A = 0.4265 A = 0.4706

c. 𝑧 = 2.38 or P (0 < 𝑧 < 2.38)

A = 0.4913
 e. 𝑧=1 and z=2 or P (1< 𝑧 <1) f. 𝑧 = 2.16 and 𝑧 = 3.43 or P (2.16 < 𝑧 < 3.43)

The area of the region in between:

The area of the region in between:
𝑧 = 2.16 ➔ A = 0.4846
𝑧=1 ➔ A = 0.3413
𝑧 = 3.43 ➔ A = 0.4999
𝑧=2 ➔ A = 0.4772

0.4772 – 0.3413 = 0.1359 0.4999 – 0.4846 = 0.0153

g. 𝑧 = -1.91 and 𝑧 = 3 or P (-1.91 < 𝑧 < 3)

The area of the region in between:
𝑧 = -1.91 ➔ A = 0.4719
𝑧=3 ➔ A = 0.4987

0.4719 + 0.4987 = 0.9706

h. Above 𝑧 = -1 or P (𝑧 > -1) i. To the left of 𝑧 = -1.5 or P (𝑧 < -1.5)

The area of the region in between: The area of the region in between:

𝑧 = -1 ➔ A = 0.3413 𝑧 = -1.5 ➔ A = 0.4332

Half of the Normal Curve ➔ A = 0.5 Half of the Normal Curve ➔ A = 0.5
0.3413 + 0.5 = 0.8413 0.5 – 0.4332 = 0.0668
PERCENTILE:

a. What 𝑧-score corresponds to P96 or 96th percentile?

P96 or 96th percentile (96%) represents the

0.9600 area under the normal curve.

A = 0.9600 – 0.5 = 0.4600

Nearest value = 0.4599

𝑧 = 1.75
0.5 0.4599

b. What 𝑧-score corresponds to P34 or 34th percentile?

P34 or 34th percentile (34%) represents the

0.3400 area under the normal curve.

A = 0.5000 – 0.3400 = 0.1600

0.34 Nearest value = 0.1591

𝑧 = - 0.41
0.5

c. What percentile does 𝑧-score 2.34 represent?

𝑧-score 2.34: A = 0.4904

Adding 0.5000 and round off to the nearest

hundredths:

0.4904 + 0.5000 = 0.99

The 𝑧-score represents 99th percentile or P99

0.5 0.4904 The shaded region is 99% of the distribution.

 d. What percentile does 𝑧-score -1.82 represent?
𝑧-score -1.82: A = 0.4656

Subtracting from 0.5000 and round off to the

nearest hundredths:

0.500 – 0.4656 = 0.03

The 𝑧-score represents 3rd percentile or P3

0.4656 The shaded region is 3% of the distribution.

0.5
0.5

EXAMPLE 1: DG company has 100 branches nationwide. The annual profit of DG company is normally distributed
with a mean of Php 73 million a year with a standard deviation of Php 3.25 million. How many branches have a
profit of Php 73 million to Php 80 million?
𝒙−𝝁 𝟖𝟎 − 𝟕𝟑 𝒛 ≈ 𝟐. 𝟏𝟓
Given: 𝒛= 𝒛=
𝟑. 𝟐𝟓
𝝈
n = 100 Number of branches
μ = P73M = 73 = (Area between 𝑧 = 0 & 𝑧 = 2.15)(n)
= (0.4842)(100)
X = P80M = 80
= 48.42
σ = P3.25M = 3.25
≈ 48 branches
73M 80M
Therefore, 48 branches have a profit of Php 73
M to Php 80 M.

EXAMPLE 8: Fifty job applicants took an IQ tests and their scores are normally distributed with a mean of 100.
a. How many applicants obtain a score between 74 and 126 if the standard deviation is 20?

Given:
𝒙𝟏 − 𝝁 𝒙𝟐 − 𝝁
𝒛𝟏 = 𝒛𝟐 =
n = 50
𝝈 𝝈
𝟕𝟒 − 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟐𝟔 − 𝟏𝟎𝟎
μ = 100 𝒛𝟏 = 𝒛𝟐 =
𝟐𝟎 𝟐𝟎
X1 = 74
𝒛 ≈ −𝟏. 𝟑 𝒛 ≈ 𝟏. 𝟑
X2 = 126

σ = 20

74 126
100
 Number of applicants

= (Area between 𝑧 = -1.3 & 𝑧 = 1.3)(n)

= (0.4032 + 0.4032)(50)

= 40.32

≈ 40 applicants

Therefore, 40 applicants obtained a score between 74 and 126 if the standard deviation is 20.

EXAMPLE 8: Fifty job applicants took an IQ tests and their scores are normally distributed with a mean of 100.
b. The management decided not to hire the lowest 20% of the applicants, what must be the score an applicant
must obtain to get hired if the standard deviation is 20?
Given: Nearest value to 0.30:
A = 0.3023 𝑧 = - 0.85
n = 50
𝒙−𝝁
μ = 100 𝒛=
30% 𝝈
σ = 20 𝑿 = 𝒛𝝈 + 𝝁

A = 30% below 20% 𝑿 = (−𝟎. 𝟖𝟓)(𝟐𝟎) + 𝟏𝟎𝟎

mean 𝑿 = 𝟖𝟑

Therefore, an applicant should have an IQ test score of 83 or higher to get hired.

Find the area under the normal curve described by the following conditions:
1. Between z = 0 and z = 1.63 5. To the right of z = 2.35
2. Between z = 0 and z = - 1.78 6. To the right of z = - 1.31
3. Between z = 1.56 and z = 2.51 7. To the left of z = 0.35
4. Between z = - 2.46 and z = 1.55 8. To the left of z = 1.85
Supply what is asked in each item.
I. What z-score represents the following percentiles?

a. P85 b. P40

II. What percentile does the following z-scores represent?

a. z = 2.67 b. z = - 0.5

III. In a Science test, the mean score is 42 and the standard deviation is 5. Assuming the scores are normally
distributed, what percent of the score is

a. greater than 48?

b. less than 50?

c. between 30 and 49?