Lesson

5.5
The Normal Distributions
• If mean and standard deviation are heart and brain of descriptive
statistics then perhaps the normal curve is its lifeblood. In the
preceding section, we discussed in passing the z-scores, wherein the
mean is always zero and the standard deviation is fixed to 1. In this
section, it is now proper to finally introduce the normal curve. The
normal curve is actually a theoretical distribution. It is a unimodal
frequency distribution curve. The scores are scattered on the X axis
while the frequency of occurrence is defined by the Y axis.
Discussions
• Here are some key characteristics of the normal curve.
• Majority of the scores cluster around the middle of the distribution and
fewer scores scattered in both extreme sides or tail ends of the curve.
• It is always symmetrical and perfectly balanced.
• Being a theoretical distribution, the mean, median and the mode are all
equal.
• It uses standard deviation along the x-axis.
• The normal curve is asymptotic to the abscissa and the total area under
the curve is approximating 1.0 or 100%
• The normal curve has a mean of zero and standard deviation of 1 unit.
The Empirical Rule for a normal distribution

68% of data within 1 sd

95% of data within 2 sd

99.7% of data within 3 sd

• z Scores. The z scores are enormously beneficial in interpreting of
relative position of the raw score taking into account the centrality of
the distribution and the amount of variability. With the z-score, we
can gain understanding of an individual relative performance
compared to the performance of the entire group being measured.
But before we delve deeper into the concepts of the z score, it is
imperative to learn how to use the z-score table. A copy of the z-table
can be accessed at this website address:
• https://www.calculator.net/z-score-calculator.html
https://www.calculator.net/z-score-calculator.html
https://www.calculator.net/z-score-calculator.html
• The table we will be using is a right tail z-table. This table is used to
find the area between z=0 and any positive value and reference the
area to the right side of the standard deviation curve. The z-score
table gives only the percentage for the half of the curve. But since the
normal curve is symmetrical, a z-score that is given to the right of the
mean yields the same percentage as a z score to the left of the mean

Mean line
• For example, to look up a z-score of .68 using the z-score table, look
for 0.6 in the far left of the column then look for the second decimal
0.08 in the top row. The table value is 0.25175. It represents a
percentage of 25.17 %. It is the percentage of cases falling between
the z score and the mean.
 25.17 % is the area between the
`

Mean 0.68
Z score
• 25.17% is the percentage of cases falling between the z score (0.68)
and the mean.
• Now, let us consider some situations that might possibly occur in
using the z-table

Case 1. Finding percentage of cases falling between z-score and the mean.
This area is 24.215%
This area is 24.215%
• As example for Case 1, the z-score of +0.75 will generate a z-table
value of 0.24215 or 24.215%. In the same way, the z-score of -0.75
will generate the same value-table value of 0.24215 or 24.215%.
Notice that the value is always a positive number since percentage
area is always positive.
• Case 2. Finding the percentage of cases above the given z-score. It is
important to remember for this case that the total area of the normal
curve is 1.0 or 100%. It is also essential to keep in mind that the right
half of the normal curve is 50% as well as the left half (50%). You also
need to consider that the z-table always provide a percentage value in
relation to the mean.

This area is 24.215% This area is 50%

This area is 25.785%

+0.75 -0.75
Mean

++
Z score - Z score Mean
• For Case 2(a), To find the area above the given z-score, the equivalent
z-table value must be determined then subtract it from the total area
of the right half which is 50%. For example, to find the percentage of
cases above the z-score of +0.75. Find the z-table value of +.75 which is
0.24215 (24.215%) then subtract it from the total area of the right half
of the normal curve which is 50%. This is 50% - 24.214% = 25.785%
• For Case 2(b), in order the determine the area above the given z-score
(the z-score here is a negative number because it is situated in the left
side of the normal curve), simply find the equivalent z-table value then
add 50%. Again, always keep in mind that the z-table only provide a
percentage of cases between the z-score the mean and not the entire
right side of the curve. To cite another example, let us find the
percentage of cases above the z-score of -0.75. The z-table value of -
0.75 is 0.24215. This is equivalent to 24.215%. With this number just
add the percentage area of the entire right side which is 50%. So this is
24.215% + 50% =74.215%.
• Case 3. Finding the percentage of cases below the given z-score. The
principle we made in Case 2 is the same principle that can be applied
in Case 3.

This area is 25.785% This area is 50% This area is 24.215%

-0.75 +0.75
Mean
-Z score Mean + Z score
• For case 3(a), try to determine the percentage of cases below the z-
score of -0.75. Using similar analysis made in case 2(a), the total area
of the left side must be subtracted. If your computation is correct,
your answer is 25.785%.
• For case 3(b), to determine the percentage of cases below the z-score
of +0.75. The z-table value will only cover the percentage of cases
between the z-score and the mean, so you need to add 50% which is
the l percentage of cases of the left side of the normal curve. Your
computation must generate an answer of 74.215%.
• Case 4. Finding the percentage of cases between the two z-scores.

This area is 24.215% This area is 24.215%

-0.75 +0.75
Mean
• To illustrate Case 4, let us try to determine the percentage of cases
between the two z-scores. The -0.75 Z-score and +0.75 z-score. The -
0.75 z-score generates a z-table value of 24.215%. Also +0.75 z-score
generates the same z-table value of 24.215%. Thus, the percentage of
cases between -0.75 and +0.75 is simply to add the two percentage of
cases and that is (24.215% + 24.215%) 48.43%.
 • Translating the raw score into the z-score.
• We are now familiar with the z-score concepts and having a
knowledge about percentages of area above, below and between z-
scores. Likewise, we are also equipped with certain knowledge
regarding the z-score formula that if the mean and standard deviation
are known, we can subtract the mean from the raw score, divide by
standard deviation, and obtain the z score.
𝑥−𝑥̅
𝑧=
𝑆𝐷
The z-score reveals the location of the raw score from the mean in the standard
deviation units. The z score accounts both the mean of the distribution and the
amount of variability. Now, let us determine the practical use z-score in the context
of normal distribution of raw scores.
• Case A. When the percentage of cases is between the raw score and
the mean. The normal distribution of physics scores has mean of 85
and a standard deviation of 10. What percentage of scores will fall
between the physics score of 95 and the mean?
• Initially, we need to convert the raw score of 95 into its equivalent z-
score.
95−85
𝑥−𝑥 = = 1.0
• 𝑧= 10
𝑆𝐷
Then draw the normal curve as shown below;

34.13%
85 95
𝑋ത (1.00)
• Next is to look up the z-score value in the table (
https://www.calculator.net/z- score-calculator.html ). The z-table
value is 0.34134 or 34.13%. That is the percentage of scores that
falling between the physics score of 95 and the mean. This means that
around 1 in 3 students (34.13%) fall between the score of 95 and the
mean.
• Case B. When the percentage of cases fall below a raw score. Using
the same example, on a normal distribution of scores in physics class,
with a mean of 85 and a standard deviation of 10, what percentage of
physics scores fall below a score of 95?
• First, convert the raw score of 95 into its equivalent z-score.
First, convert the raw score of 95 into its equivalent z-score.
𝑥−𝑥 95−85
𝑧= = = 1.0
𝑆𝐷 10

Next is to draw the normal curve as already shown below;

34.13%
50%

85 95
𝑋ത (1.00)
• Finally, look up the z-score in the z- table (
https://www.calculator.net/z-score- calculator.html )take the right
value. It is 0.34134 or 34.13%. Lastly, add the 50% to 34.13% to get
the sum 84.13%. The percentage of physics scores fall below a score
of 95 is 84.13%. This means that if 100 students took the examination
and your score is 95. Then your physics grade surpassed the grade of
84 students.
•
Case C. When the percentage of cases is above a raw score. On a normal
distribution of scores in physics class, with a mean of 85 and a standard deviation
of 10, what percentage of physics scores above a score of 95?

Again, we need to convert the raw score of 95 into its equivalent z-score.

95−85
𝑧=
𝑥−𝑥 = = 1.0
𝑆𝐷 10
The draw the normal curve as already shown below;

This area is 15.87%

34.13%
85 95
𝑋ത (1.00)
• We look up the z-score in the table (
https://www.calculator.net/z-score- calculator.html )take the correct
value. It is 0.34134 or 34.13%. Then subtract 34.13% from 50%. The
answer is 15.87%. This is the percentage of cases above the score of
95. This means that if 100 students took the examination and your
score is 95
• Then around 15 students surpassed your physics grade of 95.
• Case D. When the percentage of cases is between raw scores. On a
normal distribution of physics scores, the mean is 85 and the standard
deviation is 10. Your physics score is 95 and your friends score is 80.
You wanted to determine how many students got a score between
your friend’s score of 80 and your score of 95.
• Again, convert the raw score of 95 and the raw score of 80 into its
equivalent z- scores.
The draw the normal curve as already shown below;

34.13%
19.15%
80 85 95
(-0.5) 𝑋ത (1.00)
• We look up the z-score in the table (
https://www.calculator.net/z-score- calculator.html ) and look for z
percentage of cases for the z-value 1.0. Also look for the percentage
of cases for the z-value -0.5. The percentage of cases is 34.13% and
19.15% respectively. Add the two values to get the percentage of
cases between the raw score of 95 and 80. The answer is 53.28%. This
means that 1 in 2 students
• got a score between 95 and 85 (i.e. between your score and your
friend’s score).
• At this point, we already made a significantly long journey. From the
measures of central tendency to the measures of variability and
finally to measures of relative position. We are now in the position no
longer seeking answers to questions but seeking questions beyond
the conventions established by the answers.
 Learning Activity 5.5
• Road test of MG5 Sedan compact car show a fuel mean rating of 20
kilometers per liter in highways, with a standard deviation of 1.5 kilometers
per liter. What percentage of these cars (MG5) will achieve results of
•
• More than 25 kilometers per liter?
• Less than 17 kilometers per liter?
• Between 15 and 24 kilometers per liter?
• Between 21 and 24 kilometers per liter?
• On a normal distribution, at what percentage must
• The mean fall?
• The median fall?
• The mode fall?