THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

Dr. Nurliyana Juhan 1

Preparatory Centre for Science & Technology, UMS

 OUTLINE
 Introduction
 Normal distribution
 Application of the Normal distribution
 The Normal approximation to the Binomial distribution

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 OBJECTIVES
• Identify distribution as symmetric or skewed.
• Identify the properties of a Normal distribution.
• Find the area under the standard Normal distribution, given various z
values.
• Find probabilities for a normally distributed variable by transforming
it into a standard normal variable.
• Find specific data values for given percentages, using the standard
Normal distribution.
• Use the Normal approximation to compute probabilities for a Binomial
variable.
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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
• Random variables can be either discrete or continuous.
• As in previous chapter, we dealt with discrete variable,
which is then applied in Binomial distribution.
• In this chapter, the focus will be more on continuous
variables.

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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
Recall that there are three (3) types of skewness for
distribution:
1)Positively skewed
2)Symmetrical
3)Negatively skewed

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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
• Many continuous variables have distributions that are
bell-shaped, often called as approximately normally
distributed variables.

• A normal distribution is a continuous, symmetric, bell-

shaped distribution of a variable.

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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
• The shape and position of Normal distribution curve
depends on:
I. Mean
II.Standard deviation
• Each normally distributed variable has own normal
curve, which depends on its mean and standard
deviation
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NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

The larger the

standard deviation,
the more dispersed, or
spread out, the
distribution is.

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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
Properties of the theoretical Normal distribution:
1) A Normal distribution is bell-shaped.
2) The mean, median, and mode are equal and located at the center
of the distribution.
3) The Normal distribution curve is unimodal (it has only one (1)
mode).
4) The curve is symmetrical about the mean.
5) The curve is continuous, that is, no gaps or holes between the curve.
6) The curve is asymptote about x-axis, that is, it never touches the x-
axis
7) The total area under the curve is 1.

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NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
• The standard normal distribution:
➢The standard normal distribution is a normal
distribution with a mean of 0 and a standard deviation
of 1.

μ = 0,
σ=1
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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
➢All normally distributed variables can be transformed
into the standard normally distributed variable by
using the z score formula:

X −
z=

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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
➢The z value is the number of standard deviations that
a particular x value is away from the mean.

➢The corresponding area for z value under the normal

distribution curve can be obtained from:
a) Standard normal distribution table
b) Scientific calculator
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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
a) Standard normal distribution table:

Z value .00 .01 .02 . . . . . . .

0.0
0.1
0.2
.
. Area under the curve
.
.
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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
b) Scientific calculator (applicable for model 570 or similar):
➢ Step 1: choose mode to be SD.
➢ Step 2: press SHIFT and DISTR.
➢ Step 3: choose suitable option according to the distribution.

❖Options available:
❖P( : for area under the curve of left of the distribution.
❖Q( : for area under the curve of center of the distribution.
❖R( : for area under the curve of right of the distribution.
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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
❖P( : for area under the curve of left of the distribution.

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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
❖Q( : for area under the curve of center of the distribution.

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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
❖R( : for area under the curve of right of the distribution.

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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
•

➢ Step 1: choose mode

to be SD.
➢ Step 2: press SHIFT
and DISTR
➢ Step 3: choose Q(
(press 2).
➢ Step 4: insert the
value of 2.34 &
close the bracket.
➢ Step 5: Press =

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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
•

➢ Step 1: choose mode

to be SD.
➢ Step 2: press SHIFT
and DISTR
➢ Step 3: choose Q(
(press 2).
➢ Step 4: insert the
value of -1.75 &
close the bracket.
➢ Step 5: Press =

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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
•

➢ Step 1: choose mode

to be SD.
➢ Step 2: press SHIFT
and DISTR
➢ Step 3: choose R(
(press 3).
➢ Step 4: insert the
value of 1.11 &
close the bracket.
➢ Step 5: Press =

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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
•

➢ Step 1: choose mode

to be SD.
➢ Step 2: press SHIFT
and DISTR
➢ Step 3: choose P(
(press 1).
➢ Step 4: insert the
value of -1.93 &
close the bracket.
➢ Step 5: Press =

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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
•

➢ Step 1: choose mode

to be SD.
➢ Step 2: press SHIFT
and DISTR
➢ Step 3: choose Q(
(press 2).
➢ Step 4: insert the
value of
Q(2.47) - Q(2).
➢ Step 5: Press =

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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
•

➢ Step 1: choose mode

to be SD.
➢ Step 2: press SHIFT
and DISTR
➢ Step 3: choose Q(
(press 2).
➢ Step 4: insert the
value of
Q(-1.37)+Q(1.68).
➢ Step 5: Press =

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 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
•

➢ Step 1: choose mode

to be SD.
➢ Step 2: press SHIFT
and DISTR
➢ Step 3: choose P(
(press 1).
➢ Step 4: insert the
value of 1.99 &
close the bracket.
➢ Step 5: Press =

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 APPLICATION OF THE NORMAL
DISTRIBUTION
• The standard normal distribution can be used to solve a wide
various of practical problems.
• Before solving the standard normal distribution problem, a
transformation of original non-standard score to standard score
(z score) is needed.
• The z score is then used to find the area under the standard normal
distribution by using either standard normal distribution table or
scientific calculator.
X −
z=
 26
 APPLICATION OF THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
Example 1: A survey by the finance department found that women staffs of
University Malaysia Sabah spend on average RM 146.21 for a certain holidays.
Assume the standard deviation is RM 29.44. Find the percentage of women staffs
who spend less than RM 160.00. Assume that the variable is normally distributed.
Solution:
Given that:
 = 146.21
 = 29.44
 160.00 − 146.21 
P( X  160.00 ) = P z  
 29.44 
➢Hence, 0.6808 or 68.08% of
= P(z  0.4684 )
women staffs spend less than RM
= 0.6808 160.00 for a certain holidays.
P(0.4684) = 27
 APPLICATION OF THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
Example 2: Each month, a Malaysian household generates an average of 28 pounds
of newspaper for garbage or recycling. Assume the standard deviation is 2 and the
amount of newspaper generated is normally distributed. If a household is selected at
random, find the probability of the newspaper generating:
a) More than 30.2 pounds per month.
b) Between 27 and 31 pounds per month.
Solution for (a):
Given that:  = 28
 =2
 30.2 − 28 
P( X  30.2 ) = P z  
 2 
= P(z  1.1)
Hence, 0.1357 or 13.57% of the selected
household generates more than 30.2 pounds of
R(1.1) = = 0.1357 newspaper per month.
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 APPLICATION OF THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

Solution for (b):

Given that:  = 28
 =2
 27 − 28 31 − 28 
P(27  X  31) = P z 
 2 2 

= P(− 0.5  z  1.5)

= 0.6247 Hence, 0.6247 or 62.47% of the selected
household generates more than 30.2 pounds of
newspaper per month.

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Q(-0.5)+Q(1.5) =
 APPLICATION OF THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
Example 3: an exclusive college desires to accept only top 10% of all graduating
seniors based on the results of a national placement test. This test has a mean of 500
and a standard deviation of 100. Find the lowest possible score to qualify. Assume
that the variable is normally distributed.
Solution:
Given that:  = 500
 = 100
To backward the calculation of x value,
the normal distribution table is needed.

It is stated that only top 10% are

accepted, the following graph represents
the shaded region of 10% (0.10).
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 APPLICATION OF THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
That is:
 score − 500 
P( X  score ) = P z   = 0.10
 100 
We can only search the area under the curve towards the left distribution, the complementary
area of 0.9 is used to search the z score in the table.
 score − 500 
P( X  score ) = P z   = 0.90
 100 
From the table: 0.90 corresponds to z = 1.28.
z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09

Nearest to 0.90 31

z = 1.2 + 0.08 = 1.28

 APPLICATION OF THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

From the table: 0.90 corresponds to z = 1.28.

 score − 500 
Hence, P( X  score ) = P z   = 0.90
 100 

 P(z  1.28) = 0.90

score − 500
= 1.28
100
 score = 1.28(100 ) + 500 = 628
The cutoff score is 628.
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 APPLICATION OF THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
Example 4: For a medical study, a researcher wishes to select people in the middle of 60%
of the population based on the blood pressure. If the mean systolic blood pressure is 120
and the standard deviation is 8, find the upper and lower readings that would qualify
people to participate in the study.

Solution:
Given that:
 = 120
 =8
To backward the calculation of x value,
the normal distribution table is needed.

It is stated that the middle 60% are

selected, the following graph represents33
the shaded region of 60% (0.60).
 APPLICATION OF THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

That is:
 x − 120 x − 120 
P( x1  X  x2 ) = P 1 z 2  = 0.6
 8 8 
Since the normal curve is symmetric, the remaining 40% shares equally among the left tail
and right tail, that:

 x − 120 
P( X  x1 ) = P z  1  = 0.20
 8 

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 APPLICATION OF THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05

Closer to 0.2
-0.8 – 0.04 = -0.84

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 APPLICATION OF THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

From the table: 0.20 corresponds to z = -0.84 (left tail).

 x1 − 120 
Hence, P( X  x1 ) = P z   = 0.20
 8 

 P(z  −0.84) = 0.20

x1 − 120
= −0.84
8
 x1 = −0.84(8) + 120 = 113.28
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 APPLICATION OF THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

Since left tail = right tail, hence for right tail, z = 0.84

 x2 − 120 
P ( X  x2 ) = P  z   = 0.20
Hence,  8 

 P(z  0.84 ) = 0.20

x2 − 120
= 0.84
8
 x2 = 0.84(8) + 120 = 126.72
Hence, the readings for qualification is between 113.28 and 126.72
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 THE NORMAL APPROXIMATION TO THE
BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION

The Normal distribution is often used to solve problems that

involves the Binomial distribution when given number of trials, n
is too large (example, 100) since the calculations are too difficult
to do by using Binomial distribution.

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 THE NORMAL APPROXIMATION TO THE
BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION
•

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 THE NORMAL APPROXIMATION TO THE
BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION

In addition, a correction for continuity may be used in normal

approximation.
A correction for continuity is a correction employed when a
continuous distribution is used to approximate a discrete
distribution.

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THE NORMAL APPROXIMATION TO THE
BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION

Binomial Normal
1) P( X = a ) P(a − 0.5  X  a + 0.5)
2) P( X  a ) P( X  a − 0.5)
3) P( X  a ) P( X  a + 0.5)
4) P( X  a ) P( X  a + 0.5)
5) P( X  a ) P( X  a − 0.5)
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 THE NORMAL APPROXIMATION TO THE
BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION

Procedure for the Normal approximation to the Binomial distribution:

➢Step 1: check whether the conditions to apply Normal approximation is satisfied.
➢Step 2: find the mean and standard deviation.
➢Step 3: write the problem in probability notation, using x.
➢Step 4: rewrite the problem by using the correction for continuity factor and show
the corresponding area under the Normal distribution.
➢Step 5: find the corresponding z value.
➢Step 6: find the solution.

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 THE NORMAL APPROXIMATION TO THE BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION

Example 1: A magazine reported that 6% of Malaysian drivers read the newspaper while
driving. If 300 drivers are selected at random, find the probability that exactly 25 say they
read the newspaper while driving.

Solution:
p = 0.06
q = 1 − p = 0.94
n = 300
np = (300 )(0.06 ) = 18  5
nq = (300 )(0.94 ) = 282  5
Hence, normal approximation can be used.
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 THE NORMAL APPROXIMATION TO THE BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION

 = np = (300 )(0.06 ) = 18
 = npq = (300)(0.06)(0.94) = 4.1134

P( X = 25) = P(24.5  X  25.5)

 24.5 − 18 25.5 − 18 
= P z 
 4.1134 4.1134 
= P(1.5802  z  1.8233)
= 0.0229 Hence, the probability that exactly 25
people read the newspaper while driving
is 0.0229 or 2.29%.
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Q(1.8233) - Q(1.5802) =
 THE NORMAL APPROXIMATION TO THE BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION

Example 2: if a baseball player’s batting average 0.320 (32%), find the probability the
player will get at most 26 hits in 100 times at bat.

Solution:
 = np = (100 )(0.32 ) = 32
p = 0.32
 = npq = (100 )(0.32)(0.68) = 4.6648
q = 1 − p = 0.68
n = 100 P( X  26 ) = P( X  26.5)
np = (100 )(0.32 ) = 32  5  26.5 − 32 
nq = (100 )(0.68) = 68  5
= P z  
 4.6648 
= P(z  −1.1790 )
Hence, normal approximation can be used.
= 0.1192
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P(-1.1790) =
THE NORMAL APPROXIMATION TO THE BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION

Hence, the probability that at most 26 hits in 100 times at

bat is 0.1192 or 11.92%. 46
THE NORMAL APPROXIMATION TO THE BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION

• Exercise 1: Of the total population of the Malaysia, 20% live in the

north Malaysia. If 200 residents of Malaysia are randomly selected,
find the probability that at least 50 residents live in the north
Malaysia.
• Exercise 2: In a bowling club of UMS, 10% are expert players. If
350 bowling club members are selected at random, find the
probability that in between 30 to 50 (inclusive) are expert players.

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