Density Curves and Normal Distributions | Part II | SHUBLEKA

   

Normal Distributions

Normal curve = symmetric, single-peaked, and bell –shaped

μσ

9 The mean and standard deviation alone do not specify the shape of most distributions
9 The shape of density curves in general does not reveal the standard deviation
9 The above are special properties of Normal Distributions
1. Descriptions of real data: test scores, repeated careful measurements of the same quantity,
and characteristics of biological populations
2. Good approximations to the results of many kinds of chance outcomes, such as tossing a coin
many times.
3. Many statistical inference procedures based on Normal distributions work well for other
roughly symmetric distributions.
™ Even though many sets of data follow a Normal distribution, many do not!

The 68 – 95 – 99.7 Rule

In the normal distribution:

• Approximately 68% of the observations fall within one standard deviation of the mean
• Approximately 95% of the observations fall within two standard deviations of the mean
• Approximately 99.7% of the observations fall within three standard deviations of the mean

Example: Women between 20 and 29 Æ mean height = 64, standard deviation = 2.5,
approximately normal. Find z-score for a woman 6 feet tall.

Standard Normal Distribution

Mean = 0, Standard Deviation = 1 N(0, 1)

Cumulative proportion = area to the left of an observation (or observation’s z-score)

 Density Curves and Normal Distributions | Part II | SHUBLEKA
   

Using the Standard Normal Table

Example 1: Find the proportion of observations that are less than 2.22

Locate 2.2 on the left hand column, then remaining digit 2 as 0.02 in the top row. The entry is
0.9868. 98.68% of (standard normal) observations have z-scores less than 2.22.

Normal Distribution Calculations

Steps: State the problem in terms of the observed variable x. Draw a picture of the distribution and
shade the area of interest under the curve.

Step 2: Standardize and draw picture for standard normal curve.

Step 3: Use the table. Find the required area under the standard normal table.

Step 4: Write your conclusion in the context of the problem.

Example: Cholesterol levels in young boys: mean 170 mg/dl, standard deviation 30 mg/dl.

Q: What percent of 14 year old-boys have more than 240 mg/dl of cholesterol?

Step 1: x = cholesterol level in the blood N(170, 30) X > 240

Step 2: Standardize z > 2.33

Step 3: 1 – 0.9901 (right tail) = 0.0099

Step 4: 1% of 14-year old boys have dangerously high cholesterol levels

Inverse Calculations

Finding a value, given the proportion.

Example: SAT Verbal Scores, N(505, 110) How high must a student score to place in the top 10%?