LOCATING PERCENTILES UNDER THE

NORMAL CURVE
Lesson Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you are expected to:

1. find z-scores when probabilities are given;

and
2. locate percentiles under the normal curve.
Pre-Assessment
Check your readiness for this lesson by doing the
following activities.
Lesson Introduction
Which of the following expressions are familiar to
you?
‘First honor’
‘Top five’
‘a score of 98%’

These are expressions of order. They indicate

relative standing. In real life, many people want to
belong to a high level in terms of relative standing.
Discussion Points
Percentile
 For any set of measurements (arranged in
ascending or descending order), a percentile
(or a centile) is a point in the distribution
such that a given number of cases is below
it.
 A percentile is a measure of relative
standing. It is a descriptive measure of the
relationship of a measurement to the rest of
the data.
Discussion Points
Percentile and z-scores
 A probability value corresponds to an area
under the normal curve.
 In the Table of Areas Under the Normal Curve,
the numbers in the extreme left and across the
top are z-scores, which are the distances along
the horizontal scale. The numbers in the body
of the table are areas or probabilities.
 The z-scores to the left of the mean are
negative values.
Discussion Points

Illustrative Example
Find the 95th percentile of a normal curve.

Analysis
P95 means locating an area before (or below) the point.
We want to know what the z-value is at this point.
Discussion Points
STEPS
1. Draw the appropriate normal
curve.
2. Express the given percentage as
probability.
3. Split 0.9500 into 0.5000 and
0.4500.
4. Shade .5000 of the sketch of the
normal curve in Step 1.
5. Refer to the Table of Areas Under
the Normal Curve. Locate the area
0.4500 in the body of the table.
6. Find the z-score that corresponds
to 0.4500 on the leftmost column.
SOLUTION
95% is the same as 0.9500
0.9500 = 0.5000 + 0.4500
The proportion of the area above is
.8413.
This area is not found in the table. It is
between the values of 0.4495 and
0.4505.
Find z by interpolation, as follows.
Discussion Points
STEPS SOLUTION
7. Find the z-value that corresponds 0.4505 ↔ z = 1.65
to 0.4505
8. Find the z-value that corresponds 0.4495 ↔ z = 1.64
to 0.4495.
9. Find the average of the two z- z = 1.645
values.
10. Locate z = 1.645 under the curve in The 95th percentile is z = 1.645.
Step 1 and make a statement.
11. Draw a line through under the Do this under the sketch of the curve in
curve in Step 1. Step 1.
12. Shade the region to the left of z = Do this under the sketch of the curve in
1.645. Step 1.
13. Describe the shaded region. The shaded region is 95% of the
distribution.
Example Find the upper 10% of the
normal curve.
STEPS SOLUTION
1. Draw the appropriate normal
curve.
2. Express the given percentage as 10% is the same as 0.1000
probability.
3. With respect to the mean, locate To the right of the mean
the upper 10%.
4. Using the upper side of the mean, 0.5000 – 0.1000 = 0.4000
find the remaining area.
5. Refer to the Table of Areas Under This area is not found in the body of
the Normal Curve. Locate the area the table, so we take 0.3997, which is
0.4000 in the body of the table. the closest value.
6. Find the z-score that corresponds z = 1.28.
to 0.3997 on the leftmost column.
Solution to Example (continuation)
STEPS SOLUTION
7. Locate z=1.28 under the sketch of That is, the upper 10% is above z =
the curve in Step 1 and make a 1.28.
statement.
8. Draw a line through under the Do this under the sketch of the curve in
curve in Step 1. Step 1.
9. Shade the region to the left of z = Do this under the sketch of the curve in
1.645. Step 1.
10. Describe the shaded region. The shaded region is the upper 10% of
the normal curve.
Exercises

Find each of the following percentile points

under the normal curve.

1. P99
2. P90
3. P68
4. P40
5. P32
Summary
 A percentile is a measure of relative standing. It is a
descriptive measure of the relationship of a
measurement to the rest of the data.
 In the Table of Areas Under the Normal Curve, the
numbers in the extreme left and across the top are
z-scores, which are the distances along the
horizontal scale. The numbers in the body of the
table are areas or probabilities.
 The z-scores to the left of the mean are negative
values.