Prob and Stats, Nov 5

The Normal Probability Distribution

Book Sections: N/A
Essential Questions: What is the difference between a discrete
probability and a continuous probability distribution? What is the
normal probability distribution and how can I use it?

Standards: PS.SPID.4, PS.SPMJ.1

 Probability Distributions
• Discrete or continuous? This has nothing to do
with probability values, only on what value a
random variable can assume.
• Discrete – If the random variable is always and
can only be an integer, then it is a discrete random
variable.

• Continuous – If the random variable can take on

values between whole numbers (fractions or
decimal numbers) then it is a continuous random
variable.
 Probability Distributions
• In a discrete distribution, there is a probability
associated with every discrete outcome.

• In a continuous distribution, we are concerned

with probability as it associates to the area
between or beyond values. The probability that a
continuous random variable assumes an exact
value is always 0.
 Probability
• Probability is, was , and always will be a number
between 0 and 1 (0 ≤ p ≤ 1) that gives an
indication of how likely an event is to happen.
 Normal Distribution
• The most important continuous distribution in statistics
is the normal distribution. Why?
 Because it comes up so much, particularly in the human (and
animal) experience and in the world around us. Most things
related to the things we say, do, and live are normally
distributed.
• Having said all of that, two things to remember:
1. Not everything is ‘normal’
2. Not all normal is perfect
 The Normal Distribution
• A normal distribution is a continuous probability distribution
for a random variable, x. The graph of the normal
distribution is called the normal curve or a ‘bell curve’
because of its distinct bell shape.
• A normal distribution has a mean, μ (mu) and a standard
deviation, σ (sigma).
 The exact curve depends entirely on mu and sigma.
• The equation of the probability density function with mean,
μ, and standard deviation, σ is:
1 ( x   ) 2 / 2 2
y e
 2
Properties of the Normal Distribution
• A normal distribution with mean, μ and standard deviation, σ has the
following properties:
1. The mean, median, and mode are equal, and are at the center of the
curve
2. The normal curve is bell-shaped and is symmetric about the mean.
3. The total area under the normal curve is equal to 1.
4. The normal curve approaches, but never touches, the x-axis as it
extends farther away from the mean. The axis is known as an
asymptote, meaning the graph approaches it but never touches it.
5. Between μ – σ and μ + σ (in the center of the curve), the graph curves
downward. The graph curves upward to the left of μ – σ and to the
right of μ + σ. The point at which the curve changes are called
inflection points.
Properties of the Normal Distribution
In Pictures
 The Normal Distribution
• The exact curve depends entirely on mu
and sigma.

The mean sets the center of the curve on a number

line.
The standard deviation dictates the height and width
of the curve.
• Big sigma – short and wide curve.
• Small sigma – tall and narrow curve.
 Shaping Normal Curves
• A normal distribution can have any mean and any positive
standard deviation. These two parameters, μ and σ,
determine the shape of the normal curve.

The smaller the σ, the taller (and narrower) the curve.

 Example 1
• In the following example:
 Example 2
• Consider the curves
shown at the right.
Which has the
greatest mean and
standard deviation?
Estimate the mean, μ
of each.
 The Texas Normal Distribution
• The calculator has a pre-programmed normal
distribution. Same place as our binomial friend,
but the first one up. Normalpdf, and arguments,
for today, are: x, μ, σ . We shall try it.
 The Texas Normal Distribution
• We are graphing this function for a given value of
the mean and standard deviation.
• To graph, select the purple Y= key, top left.
The function we are going to graph is the normalpdf
function (1st one in distributions) Its arguments are the
variable x, then mu , then sigma
We must then set the window to see the graph
 Example
Graph the following normal
distributions: mean = 2, SD = .5
mean = 2, SD = 1
 Example
Graph the following normal Window
distributions: mean = 2, SD = .5 Xmin = 0
Xmax = 4
mean = 2, SD = 1
Xscl = .5
Ymin = 0
Ymax = 1
Yscl = .1
 Interpreting Normal Distributions
• The scaled test scores for the New York State Grade 8 Math test are
normally distributed. The normal curve below represents this
distribution. Estimate μ and σ in this distribution.
 Interpreting Normal Distributions
• The scaled test scores for the New York State Grade 8 Math test are
normally distributed. The normal curve below represents this
distribution. Estimate μ and σ in this distribution.
 Example 3
• The scaled test scores for the New York State Grade 8 English
Language Arts test are normally distributed. The normal curve
below represents this distribution. Estimate μ and σ in this
distribution.
Classwork: Handout CW 11/4, 1-16

Homework – Due 11/5, 1-10