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Create Bell Curve in XL
Create Bell Curve in XL
SUMMARY
A bell curve is a plot of normal distribution of a given data set. This article describes how you can create a
chart of a bell curve in Microsoft Excel.
MORE INFORMATION
In the following example you can create a bell curve of data generated by Excel using the Random Number
Generation tool in the Analysis ToolPak. After Microsoft Excel generates a set of random numbers, you can
create a histogram using those random numbers and the Histogram tool from the Analysis ToolPak. From the
histogram, you can create a chart to represent a bell curve.
To create a sample bell curve, follow these steps:
1.
Start Excel.
2.
A2: 23 B2: A3: 25 B3: STDEV A4: 12 B4: A5: 24 A6: 27 A7: 57 A8: 45
A9: 19
4.
5.
These formulas will generate the average (mean) and standard deviation of the original data,
respectively.
Enter the following formulas to generate the bin range for the histogram:
C2: =$B$2-3*$B4
This generates the lower limit of the bin range. This number represents three standard deviations
less than the average.
C3: =C2+$B$4
6.
7.
This formula adds one standard deviation to the number calculated in the cell above.
Select Cell C3, grab the fill handle, and then fill the formula down from cell C3 to cell C8.
To generate the random data that will form the basis for the bell curve, follow these steps:
a.
b.
In the Analysis Tools box, click Random Number Generation, and then click OK.
c.
e.
f.
8.
This will generate 2,000 random numbers that fit in a normal distribution.
k. Click OK.
To create a histogram for the random data, follow these steps:
a.
9.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
NOTE: Just below these 5 sub-types, the description will say "Scatter with data points connected by
smoothed lines without markers."
Click Next.
Click the Series tab.
In the Name box, delete the cell reference, and then select cell E15.
In the X Values box, delete the range reference, and then select the range E3:E10.
In the Y Values box, delete the range reference, and then select the range F3:F10.
Click Add to add another series.
Click the Name box, and then select cell E14.
Click the X Values box, and then select the range E3:E10.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
In the Y Values box, delete the value that's there, and then select the range G3:G10.
Click Add to add another series.
Click the Name box, and then select cell E16.
Click the X Values box, and then select the range E3:E10.
Click the Y Values box, delete the value that's there, and then select the range H3:H10.
Click Finish.
The chart will have two curved series and a flat series along the x-axis.
29. Double-click the second series; it should be labeled "- Bin" in the legend.
30. In the Format Data Series dialog box, click the Axis tab.
31. Click Secondary Axis, and then click OK.
You now have a chart that compares a given data set to a bell curve