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68% of the area under the bell curve is within ONE standard deviation of the mean.

68% 68%Area Area

95% of the area under the bell curve is within TWO standard deviations of the mean.

95% Area 95% Area

The bell curve is symmetric. 50% area This means 50% of the area is to the right of the mean, 34% between m and m+s, and 47.5% between m and m-2s.

68/2 = 34% area

95/2 = 47.5% area

We could separate the bell curve into six chunks, with areas shown below.
Again, the area within ONE s.d. of the mean is .34 + .34 = .68 Area within TWO s.d.s of the mean is .135+.34+.34+.135 = .95

.34

.34 .025

.025

.135

.135

Now we can find any normal probability involving the mean plus or minus one or two standard deviations.

Example: Suppose that


X ~ N(6,9) What is P(3<X<12)?

m=6 s2 = 9 s = 3 Here is the picture that should pop up in your head:

The probability of being between one s.d. below the mean and two s.d.s above is: .34 + .34 + .135 = .815

12

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