NORMAL

DISTRIBUTION
Here are the solutions for the examples in the given
powerpoint presentation.
Finding Areas Under the Standard Normal Curve
There are three cases in finding the area under the standard normal
distribution curve.

Case 1: To the left of any z value

Directly refer to the z table since all values in the table are areas to the
left of a z score.

Case 2: To the right of any z value

Complement of Case 1, subtract the corresponding area to the left of the
z score from the table from 1.

Case 3: Between any two z values

Look up for the areas corresponding to the z scores in the table and then
subtract the smaller area from the bigger one.
Finding Areas Under the Standard Normal Curve
Case 1: To the left of any z value (or z score or standard score)

a. Find the area to the left of z = 2.06

P(z < 2.06) = 0.9803

b. Find the area to the left of z = –1.26

P(z < –1.26) = 0.1038

Finding Areas Under the Standard Normal Curve
Case 2: To the right of any z value (or z score or standard score)

a. Find the area to the right of z = 0.84

P(z > 0.84) = 1 – P(z < 0.84)
P(z > 0.84) = 1 – 0.7995
P(z > 0.84) = 0.2005

b. Find the area to the right of z = –2.11

P(z > –2.11) = 1 – P(z < –2.11)
P(z > –1.26) = 1 – 0.0174
P(z > –2.11) = 0.9826
Finding Areas Under the Standard Normal Curve
Case 3: Between two z values (or z scores or standard scores)

a. Find the area between z = –1.37 and z = 1.68

P(–1.37 < z < 1.68) = P(z < 1.68) – P(z < –1.37)
P(–1.37 < z < 1.68) = 0.9535 – 0.0853
P(–1.37 < z < 1.68) = 0.8682

a. Find the area between z = 0.44 and z = 2.13

P(0.44 < z < 2.13) = P(z < 2.13) – P(z < 0.44)
P(0.44 < z < 2.13) = 0.9834 – 0.6700
P(0.44 < z < 2.13) = 0.3134
Locating Percentiles Under the Curve
Similarly, there are three cases in locating percentiles under the standard
normal distribution curve.

Case 1: Given is an area to the left (default for percentiles or there is the
word “less”, “lower” or “below”)
Look inside the table to which z-score it corresponds to exactly or closest to.
If equidistant to two references, get the average of the z-scores.

Case 2: Given is an area to the right (denoted by “higher”, “upper”, “above”)

Find first the corresponding area to the left then apply approach in Case 1.

Case 3: Given is an in between two z-scores (denoted by an interval)

Manipulate the equation algebraically to find the area to the left of the
unknown z-score then apply approach in Case 1.
Locating Percentiles Under the Curve
Case 1: Given is an area to the left (default for percentiles or there is the
word “less”, “lower” or “below”)

a. Find the 95th percentile.

P(z < a) = 95% = 0.9500 (by default since specified direction)
0.9500 is in between 0.9495 and 0.9505. Equidistant to both since
0.9500-0.9495 = 0.0005 and 0.9505-0.9500=0.0005.
0.9495 corresponds to 1.64.
0.9505 corresponds to 1.65.
Hence, a = (1.64+1.65)/2 = 1.645
Locating Percentiles Under the Curve
Case 1: Given is an area to the left (default for percentiles or there is the
word “less”, “lower” or “below”)

b. Find P68.
P(z < a) = 68% = 0.6800 (by default since no specified direction)
0.6800 is in between 0.6772 and 0.6808.
0.6800-0.6772=0.0028 and 0.6808-0.6800=0.0008
0.6800 is closer to 0.6808 corresponding to 0.47
Hence, a = 0.47
Locating Percentiles Under the Curve
Case 2: Given is an area to the right (denoted by “higher”, “upper”,
“above”)

a. Find the upper 10%.

P(z > a) = 10% = 0.1000 (an area to the right)
Its area to the left P(z < a) = 1-0.1000 = 0.9000
0.9000 is in between 0.8997 and 0.9015
0.9000 is closer to 0.8997 corresponding to 1.28
Hence, a = 1.28
Locating Percentiles Under the Curve
Case 2: Given is an area to the right (denoted by “higher”, “upper”,
“above”)

b. Find a given P(z > a) = 0.0071.

Its area to the left P(z < a) = 1-0.0071 = 0.9929
0.9929 corresponds to 2.45
Hence, a = 2.45
Locating Percentiles Under the Curve
Case 3: Given is an in between two z-scores (denoted by an interval)

a. Find a given P(-0.80 < z < a) = 0.2881.

a is bigger than -0.80, hence area to left of a is bigger than the area to
the left of -0.80, thus,
P(-0.80 < z < a) = P(z < a) – P(z < -0.80)
0.2881 = P(z < a) – 0.2119
0.2881 + 0.2119 = P(z < a)
0.5000 = P(z < a)
0.5000 corresponds to 0.00
Hence, a = 0.00
Locating Percentiles Under the Curve
Case 3: Given is an in between two z-scores (denoted by an interval)

b. Find a given P(a < z < 1.52) = 0.93.

1.52 is bigger than a, hence area to left of 1.52 is bigger than the area
to the left of a, thus,
P(a < z < 1.52) = P(z < 1.52) – P(z < a)
0.93 = 0.9357 – P(z < a)
P(z < a) = 0.9357 – 0.93
P(z < a) = 0.0057
0.5000 corresponds to -2.53
Hence, a = -2.53
Application of Normal Distribution
Word problems involving Normal Distribution will assume that the random
variable x in the given is normally distributed. In solving such problems,
standardization of the given must always be done first given the formula:

for population data: for sample data:

 – population mean x-bar – sample mean
 – population standard deviation s – sample standard deviation
x – given measurement x – given measurement

Once standardized, apply the concepts in finding the area or locating

percentiles depending on what is asked in the problem.
Application of Normal Distribution
1. Let X be a normal variable with  = 10 and  = 2. Find:
a. P (X < 10)
b. P (10 < X < 14)
c. P(X > 12)

Solution:
Standardize the given using the formula on the right then apply the concept of
finding the area.
a. P(X < 10)
z = (10 – 10) / 2 = 0 The first 10 is the given (X < 10).
The second 10 is the  = 10 together with  = 2
P(X < 10) = P(z < 0) Rewrite the given as such, meaning, the
probability that X<10 is the same as the area to
the left of 0 P(z<0)
P(X < 10) = P(z < 0) = 0.5000
Hence, P(X < 10) = 0.5000
Application of Normal Distribution
b. P(10 < X < 14)
Solution:
z = (10 – 10) / 2 = 0 The first 10 is the given (10 < X < 14).
The second 10 is the  = 10 together with  = 2
z = (14 – 10) / 2 = 2 The 14 is the given (10 < X < 14).

P(10 < X < 14) = P(0 < z < 2) Rewrite the given as such, meaning, the
probability that 10 < X < 14 is the same as the
area in between 0 and 2 P(0 < z < 2)
P(10 < X < 10) = P(0 < z < 2) = P(z < 2) – P(z < 0)
= 0.9772 – 0.5000
= 0.4772
Hence, P(10 < X < 14) = 0.4772
Application of Normal Distribution
c. P(X > 12)
Solution:
z = (12 – 10) / 2 = 1

P(X > 12) = P(z > 1) Rewrite the given as such, meaning, the probability that
X > 12 is the same as the area to the right of 1 P(z>1)

P(X > 12) = P(z > 1) = 1 – P(z < 1)

= 1 – 0.8413
= 0.1587
Hence, P(X > 12) = 0.1587
Application of Normal Distribution
2. Suppose that the scores for a standardized test are normally distributed with a
mean of 85 and a standard deviation of 10. Find the percentage of students who
scored 90 or above.

Let X = score in the standardized test.

Given:  = 85 and  = 10
“Find the percentage of students who scored 90 and above.” means, P(X ≥ 90)
Solution:
Standardize: z = (90 – 85) / 10 = 0.5
P(X ≥ 90) = P(z ≥ 0.5) Note: ≥ will have the same treatment as >
= 1 – P(z < 0.5)
= 1 – 0.6915
P(X ≥ 90) = 0.3085 Multiply by 100 to convert to percentage.
Answer: 30.85% of the students scored 90 or above.
Application of Normal Distribution
3. The RTM Company has 80 branches nationwide. The annual profit of the company is
normally distributed with a mean of 26 million a year and a standard deviation of 4.14
million. What percentage of its branches have a profit of 27 million to 38 million?

Let X = annual profit.

Given:  = 26 million and  = 4.14 million
“What percentage of its branches have a profit of 27 million to 38 million” means,
P(27 ≤ X ≤ 38)
Solution:
Standardize: z = (27 – 26) / 4.14 = 0.24 Always round OFF to 2 decimal places
z = (38 – 26) / 4.14 = 2.90
P(27 ≤ X ≤ 38) = P(0.24 ≤ z ≤ 2.90) Note: ≤ will have the same treatment as <
= P(z ≤ 2.90) – P(z ≤ 0.24)
= 0.9981 – 0.5948
P(27 ≤ X ≤ 38) = 0.4033 Multiply by 100 to convert to percentage.
Answer: 40.33% of the branches have an annual profit of 27 to 38 million.
Application of Normal Distribution
4. According to a study, Filipinos drink an average of 6.30 glasses of water per day.
Assume the variable is approximately normally distributed with a standard deviation
of 0.33 glass. If 500 individuals are selected, approximately how many will drink
a. less than 7 glasses per day?
b. more than 7 glasses per day?
c. between 6 and 7 glasses a day?

Let X = average number of glasses of water per day

Given:  = 6.30 glasses,  = 0.33 glass, n = 500

Notice the change in the question as “how many will drink”. The question is not
asking for a probability or a percentage, rather, it is asking for a number of
individuals from the given sample of 500.
This means, after finding the probability (in decimal), multiply to the given sample
size to answer the question of “how many”.
Application of Normal Distribution
a. less than 7 glasses per day?
Solution:
Standardize: z = (7 – 6.30) / 0.33 = 2.12
P(X < 7) = P(z < 2.12) The chance that an individual will drink less
than 7 glasses per day is the same as the area
to the left of the z-score 2.12
= 0.9830 Use this value and multiply to 500

500 x 0.9830 = 491.5 ≈ 492

Answer: Around 492 individuals will drink less than 7 glasses per day.
Application of Normal Distribution
b. more than 7 glasses per day?
Solution:
Standardize: z = (7 – 6.30) / 0.33 = 2.12
P(X > 7) = P(z > 2.12) The chance that an individual will drink more
than 7 glasses per day is the same as the area
to the right of the z-score 2.12
= 1 – P(z < 2.12)
= 1 – 0.9830
= 0.0170 Use this value and multiply to 500

500 x 0.0170 = 8.5 ≈ 9

Answer: Around 9 individuals will drink more than 7 glasses per day.
Application of Normal Distribution
c. between 6 and 7 glasses a day?
Solution:
Standardize: z = (7 – 6.30) / 0.33 = 2.12
z = (6 – 6.30) / 0.33 = –0.91
P(6 < X < 7) = P(–0.91 < z < 2.12) The chance that an individual will
drink between 6 and 7 glasses per day is the
same as the area in between the z-scores –
0.91 and 2.12
= P(z < 2.12) – P(z < –0.91)
= 0.9830 – 0.1814
= 0.8016 Use this value and multiply to 500

500 x 0.8016 = 400.8 ≈ 401

Answer: Around 401 individuals will drink between 6 and 7 glasses per day.
Application of Normal Distribution
5. For a student applicant to qualify for a medical scholarship grant in a certain
medical school, the applicant must belong to the top 5% in an entrance test. If the
test has a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 10, find the lowest possible
score for the applicant to qualify for the scholarship. Assume that the test scores
are normally distributed.

Let X be the entrance test score.

Given:  = 100,  = 10 and top 5%
“find the lowest possible score” means what should be the minimum entrance
test score
top 5% may be interpreted as an area to the right
P(z > a) = 5% = 0.05
0.05 = 1 – P(z < a) Manipulate algebraically.
P(z < a) = 1 – 0.05
P(z < a) = 0.95
Referring to slide 7, a = 1.645
Application of Normal Distribution
This means, the z-score that has an area to the right of 0.05 is 1.645.
Use the standardization formula to find the value of X equivalent to this z-score.

1.645 = (X – 100) / 10 Manipulate algebraically.

(10) 1.645 = X – 100
16.45 = X – 100
16.45 + 100 = X
116.45 = X

Answer: This means that a student needs to score 116.45 to qualify for the
medical scholarship.