CHAPTER3 Continuous Probability Distribution

Chapter 3, Part B
Continuous Probability Distributions
f (x)
Uniform Probability Distribution

Normal Probability Distribution
Exponential Probability Distribution
f (x) Exponential
Uniform
f (x)
Normal
x
x
x
2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.
A continuous random variable can assume any

value in an interval on the real line or in a
collection of intervals.
It is not possible to talk about the probability of
the random variable assuming a particular
value.
Instead, we talk about the probability of the
random variable assuming a value within a
given interval.
f (x)
The probability of the random variable

assuming a value within some given interval
from x1 to x2 is defined to be the area under
the graph of the probability density function
between x1 and x2.
f (x) Exponential
Uniform
f (x)
x11 x22
Normal
x11
x11 x22
xx1122 x22
A random variable is uniformly distributed

whenever the probability is proportional to the
intervals length.
The uniform probability density function is:
ff (x)
(x) =
= 1/(b
1/(b a)
a) for
for aa <
< xx <
< bb
=
elsewhere
= 00
elsewhere
where: a = smallest value the variable can assume

b = largest value the variable can assume
Expected Value of x
E(x)
E(x) =
= (a
(a +
+ b)/2
b)/2
Variance of x
22
Var(x)
=
(b
a)
Var(x) = (b - a) /12
/12
Example: Slater's Buffet

Slater customers are charged
for the amount of salad they take.
Sampling suggests that the
amount of salad taken is
uniformly distributed
between 5 ounces and 15 ounces.
Uniform Probability Density Function

f(x)
f(x) =
= 1/10
1/10 for
for 55 <
< xx <
< 15
15
=
elsewhere
= 00
elsewhere
where:
x = salad plate filling weight
Expected Value of x
E(x)
E(x) =
= (a
(a +
+ b)/2
b)/2
=
= (5
(5 +
+ 15)/2
15)/2
=
= 10
10
Variance of x
Var(x)
Var(x) =
= (b
(b -- a)
a)22/12
/12
=
= (15
(15 5)
5)22/12
/12
=
= 8.33
8.33

for Salad Plate Filling Weight
f(x)
1/10
5
10
15
Salad Weight (oz.)

What is the probability that a customer
will take between 12 and 15 ounces of
salad?
f(x)
P(12 < x < 15) = 1/10(3) = .3
1/10
5
10 12 15
Salad Weight (oz.)
10
The normal probability distribution is the most

important distribution for describing a
continuous random variable.
It is widely used in statistical inference.
11
It has been used in a wide variety of

applications:
Heights
Heights
of
of people
people
Scientific
Scientific
measurements
measurements
12
It has been used in a wide variety of

applications:
Test
Test
scores
scores
Amounts
Amounts
of
of rainfall
rainfall
13
Normal Probability Density Function
1 (x )2 / 2 2
f (x)
e
2
where:
=
=
=
=
mean
standard deviation
3.14159
2.71828
14
Characteristics
The
The distribution
distribution is
is symmetric,
symmetric, and
and is
is bell-shaped.
bell-shaped.
15
Characteristics
The
The entire
entire family
family of
of normal
normal probability
probability
distributions
distributions is
is defined
defined by
by its
its mean
mean and
and its
its
standard
standard deviation
deviation ..
Standard Deviation
Mean
16
Characteristics
The
The highest
highest point
point on
on the
the normal
normal curve
curve is
is at
at the
the
mean,
mean, which
which is
is also
also the
the median
median and
and mode.
mode.
17
Characteristics
The
The mean
mean can
can be
be any
any numerical
numerical value:
value: negative,
negative,
zero,
zero, or
or positive.
positive.
x
-10
20
18
Characteristics
The
The standard
standard deviation
deviation determines
determines the
the width
width of
of the
the
curve:
curve: larger
larger values
values result
result in
in wider,
wider, flatter
flatter curves.
curves.
= 15
= 25
x
19
Characteristics
Probabilities
Probabilities for
for the
the normal
normal random
random variable
variable are
are
given
given by
by areas
areas under
under the
the curve.
curve. The
The total
total area
area
under
under the
the curve
curve is
is 11 (.5
(.5 to
to the
the left
left of
of the
the mean
mean and
and
.5
.5 to
to the
the right).
right).
.5
.5
x
20
Characteristics
68.26%
of
68.26%
of values
values of
of aa normal
normal random
random variable
variable
are
of
+/+/- 1
1 standard
standard deviation
deviation
are within
within
of its
its mean.
mean.
95.44%
of
95.44%
of values
values of
of aa normal
normal random
random variable
variable
are
of
+/+/- 2
2 standard
standard deviations
deviations
are within
within
of its
its mean.
mean.
99.72%
of
99.72%
of values
values of
of aa normal
normal random
random variable
variable
are
of
+/+/- 3
3 standard
standard deviations
deviations
are within
within
of its
its mean.
mean.
21
Characteristics
99.72%
95.44%
68.26%
3
1
2
+ 3
+ 1
+ 2
22
Standard Normal Probability Distribution

AA random
random variable
variable having
having aa normal
normal distribution
distribution
with
with aa mean
mean of
of 00 and
and aa standard
standard deviation
deviation of
of 11 is
is
said
said to
to have
have aa standard
standard normal
normal probability
probability
distribution.
distribution.
23

The
The letter
letter zz is
is used
used to
to designate
designate the
the standard
standard
normal
normal random
random variable.
variable.
z
0
24
Converting to the Standard Normal Distribution
x
z
We can think of z as a measure of the number of

standard deviations x is from .
25
Using Excel to Compute

Standard Normal Probabilities
Excel has two functions for computing
probabilities and z values for a standard
normal distribution:
NORM
S DIST is
NORMSDIST
NORMSDIST
is used
used to
to compute
compute the
the cumulative
cumulative
probability
probability given
given aa zz value.
value.
is
NORMSINV
NORM
S INV
NORMSINV
is used
used to
to compute
compute the
the zz value
value
given
given aa cumulative
cumulative probability.
probability.
(The S in the function names reminds
us that they relate to the standard
normal probability distribution.)
26

Formula Worksheet
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
A
B
Probabilities: Standard Normal Distribution
P (z < 1.00)
P (0.00 < z < 1.00)
P (0.00 < z < 1.25)
P (-1.00 < z < 1.00)
P (z > 1.58)
P (z < -0.50)
=NORMSDIST(1)
=NORMSDIST(1)-NORMSDIST(0)
=NORMSDIST(1.25)-NORMSDIST(0)
=NORMSDIST(1)-NORMSDIST(-1)
=1-NORMSDIST(1.58)
=NORMSDIST(-0.5)
27

Value Worksheet
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
A
B
Probabilities: Standard Normal Distribution
P (z < 1.00)
P (0.00 < z < 1.00)
P (0.00 < z < 1.25)
P (-1.00 < z < 1.00)
P (z > 1.58)
P (z < -0.50)
0.8413
0.3413
0.3944
0.6827
0.0571
0.3085
28

Formula Worksheet
1
2
3
4
5
6
A
B
Finding z Values, Given Probabilities
z value with .10 in upper tail
z value with .025 in lower tail
=NORMSINV(0.9)
=NORMSINV(0.975)
=NORMSINV(0.025)
29

Value Worksheet
1
2
3
4
5
6
A
B
Finding z Values, Given Probabilities
z value with .025 in lower tail
1.28
1.96
-1.96
30
Example: Pep Zone

Pep Zone sells auto parts and supplies
including a popular multi-grade motor
oil. When the stock of this oil drops to
Pep
20 gallons, a replenishment order is Zone
5w-20
placed.
Motor Oil
31
Example: Pep Zone

Pep
Zone
5w-20
Motor Oil

The store manager is concerned that sales
are being lost due to stockouts while waiting
for an order. It has been determined that
demand during replenishment leadtime is
normally distributed with a mean of 15 gallons
and a standard deviation of 6 gallons.
The manager would like to know the
probability of a stockout, P(x > 20).
32
Example: Pep Zone

Pep
Zone
Solving for the Stockout Probability
5w-20
Motor Oil
Step
Step 1:
1: Convert
Convert xx to
to the
the standard
standard normal
normal distribution.
distribution.
zz =
= (x
(x -- )/
)/
=
= (20
(20 -- 15)/6
15)/6
=
= .83
.83
Step
Step 2:
2: Find
Find the
the area
area under
under the
the standard
standard normal
normal
curve
curve between
between the
the mean
mean and
and zz =
= .83.
.83.
see
see next
next slide
slide
33
Example: Pep Zone

Pep
Zone
5w-20
Motor Oil
Probability Table for the

Standard Normal Distribution
z
.
.00
.01
.02
.03
.04
.05
.06
.07
.08
.09
.5 .1915 .1695 .1985 .2019 .2054 .2088

.6 .2257 .2291 .2324 .2357 .2389 .2422
.7 .2580 .2611 .2642 .2673 .2704 .2734
.8 .2881 .2910 .2939 .2967 .2995 .3023
.2123 .2157 .2190 .2224

.2454 .2486 .2517 .2549
.2764 .2794 .2823 .2852
.3051 .3078 .3106 .3133
.9 .3159 .3186 .3212 .3238 .3264 .3289 .3315 .3340 .3365 .3389
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
P(0 < z < .

83)
34
Example: Pep Zone

Pep
Zone
5w-20
Motor Oil
Step
Step 3:
3: Compute
Compute the
the area
area under
under the
the standard
standard normal
normal
curve
curve to
to the
the right
right of
of zz =
= .83.
.83.
P(z
P(z >
> .83)
.83) =
= .5
.5 P(0
P(0 <
< zz <
< .83)
.83)
=
= 11- .2967
.2967
=
= .2033
.2033
Probability
of a
stockout
P(x >
20)
35
Example: Pep Zone

Pep
Zone
5w-20
Motor Oil
Area = .2967
Area = .5 - .2967
= .2033
0 .83
36
Example: Pep Zone

Pep
Zone
5w-20
Motor Oil

If the manager of Pep Zone wants the
probability of a stockout to be no more than .
05, what should the reorder point be?
37
Example: Pep Zone

Pep
Zone
5w-20
Motor Oil
Solving for the Reorder Point
Area = .4500
Area = .0500
z.05
38
Example: Pep Zone

Pep
Zone
5w-20
Motor Oil
Step
Step 1:
1: Find
Find the
the z-value
z-value that
that cuts
cuts off
off an
an area
area of
of .05
.05
in
in the
the right
right tail
tail of
of the
the standard
standard normal
normal
distribution.
distribution.
z
.
.00
.01
.02
.03
.04
.05
.06
.07
.08
.09
1.5 .4332 .4345 .4357 .4370 .4382 .4394

1.6 .4452 .4463 .4474 .4484 .4495 .4505
1.7 .4554 .4564 .4573 .4582 .4591 .4599
1.8 .4641 .4649 .4656 .4664 .4671 .4678
.4406 .4418 .4429 .4441

.4515 .4525 .4535 .4545
.4608 .4616 .4625 .4633
.4686 .4693 .4699 .4706
1.9 .4713 .4719 .4726 .4732 .4738 .4744 .4750 .4756 .4761 .4767
We look up the
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
area
(.5 - .05 = .45)
39
Example: Pep Zone

Pep
Zone
5w-20
Motor Oil
Step
to the corresponding value of x.
Step 2:
2: Convert
Convert zz.05
.05 to the corresponding value of x.
xx =
= +
+ zz.05
.05
=
= 15
15 +
+ 1.645(6)
1.645(6)
=
= 24.87
24.87 or
or 25
25
A reorder point of 25 gallons will place the probability
of a stockout during leadtime at (slightly less than) .05.
40
Example: Pep Zone

Pep
Zone
5w-20
Motor Oil

By raising the reorder point from 20 gallons to
25 gallons on hand, the probability of a stockout
decreases from about .20 to .05.
This is a significant decrease in the chance that Pep
Zone will be out of stock and unable to meet a
customers desire to make a purchase.
41

Normal Probabilities
Excel has two functions for computing

cumulative probabilities and x values for any
normal distribution:
NORMDIST
NORMDIST is
is used
used to
to compute
compute the
the cumulative
cumulative
probability
probability given
given an
an xx value.
value.
NORMINV
NORMINV is
is used
used to
to compute
compute the
the xx value
value given
given
aa cumulative
cumulative probability.
probability.
42

Formula Worksheet
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Pep
Zone
5w-20
Motor Oil
A
B
Probabilities: Normal Distribution
P (x > 20) =1-NORMDIST(20,15,6,TRUE)
Finding x Values, Given Probabilities
x value with .05 in upper tail =NORMINV(0.95,15,6)
43

Value Worksheet
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Pep
Zone
5w-20
Motor Oil
A
B
Probabilities: Normal Distribution
P (x > 20) 0.2023
Finding x Values, Given Probabilities
x value with .05 in upper tail 24.87
Note: P(x > 20) = .2023 here using Excel, while our
previous manual approach using the z table yielded
.2033 due to our rounding of the z value.
44

The exponential probability distribution is
useful in describing the time it takes to
complete a task.
The exponential random variables can be used
to describe:
Time
Time between
between Time
Distance between
between
Time required
required Distance
vehicle
major
vehicle arrivals
arrivals to
major defects
defects
to complete
complete
at
in
at aa toll
toll booth
booth aa questionnaire
in aa highway
highway
questionnaire
SLOW
45
Density Function
1 x /
f ( x) e
for x > 0, > 0
where:
= mean
e = 2.71828
46
Cumulative Probabilities
P ( x x0 ) 1 e xo /
where:
x0 = some specific value of x
47

Exponential Probabilities
The
The EXPONDIST
EXPONDIST function
function can
can be
be used
used to
to compute
compute
exponential
exponential probabilities.
probabilities.
The
The EXPONDIST
EXPONDIST function
function has
has three
three arguments:
arguments:
st
1st
The value of the random variable x
nd
2nd
1/m
rd
3rd
the inverse of the

mean
TRUE or FALSEnumber of
occurrences
in an interval
we will always enter
TRUE because were
seeking a cumulative
probability
48

Formula Worksheet
A
1
2
3 P (x < 18)
4 P (6 < x < 18)
5 P (x > 8)
6
B
Probabilities: Exponential Distribution
=EXPONDIST(18,1/15,TRUE)
=EXPONDIST(18,1/15,TRUE)-EXPONDIST(6,1/15,TRUE)
=1-EXPONDIST(8,1/15,TRUE)
49

Value Worksheet
A
1
2
3 P (x < 18)
4 P (6 < x < 18)
5 P (x > 8)
6
B
0.6988
0.3691
0.5866
50
Example: Als Full-Service Pump

The time between arrivals of cars
at Als full-service gas pump follows
an exponential probability distribution
with a mean time between arrivals of
3 minutes. Al would like to know the
probability that the time between two
successive
arrivals will be 2 minutes or less.
51
Example: Als Full-Service Pump

f(x)
-2/3 = 1 - .5134 =
P(x <
< 2)
2) =
=1
1 -- 2.71828
2.71828-2/3
= 1 - .5134 = .4866
.4866
.4 P(x
.3
.2
.1
1
x
9 10
Time Between Successive Arrivals (mins.)

52

Formula Worksheet
1
2
3
4
A
B
P (x < 2)
=EXPONDIST(2,1/3,TRUE)
53

Value Worksheet
1
2
3
4
A
B
P (x < 2)
0.4866
54
Relationship between the Poisson

and Exponential Distributions
The Poisson distribution
provides an appropriate description
of the number of occurrences
per interval
The exponential distribution

provides an appropriate description
of the length of the interval
between occurrences
55
End of Chapter 3, Part B
56

CHAPTER3 Continuous Probability Distribution

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CHAPTER3 Continuous Probability Distribution

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Chapter 3, Part B

Continuous Probability Distributions

Uniform Probability Distribution

Continuous Probability Distributions

A continuous random variable can assume any

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Continuous Probability Distributions

The probability of the random variable

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Uniform Probability Distribution

A random variable is uniformly distributed

where: a = smallest value the variable can assume

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Uniform Probability Distribution

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Example: Slater's Buffet

Uniform Probability Distribution

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Example: Slater's Buffet

Uniform Probability Density Function

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Example: Slater's Buffet

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Example: Slater's Buffet

Uniform Probability Distribution

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Example: Slater's Buffet

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Normal Probability Distribution

The normal probability distribution is the most

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Normal Probability Distribution

It has been used in a wide variety of

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Normal Probability Distribution

It has been used in a wide variety of

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Normal Probability Distribution

Normal Probability Density Function

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Normal Probability Distribution

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Normal Probability Distribution

Normal Probability Distribution

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Normal Probability Distribution

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Normal Probability Distribution

Normal Probability Distribution

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Normal Probability Distribution

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Normal Probability Distribution

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Standard Normal Probability Distribution

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Standard Normal Probability Distribution

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Standard Normal Probability Distribution

Converting to the Standard Normal Distribution

We can think of z as a measure of the number of

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.

Using Excel to Compute

2006 Thomson South-Western. All Rights Reserved.