Normal Distribution

Depression Scale scores of students

Depression Scale scores of students
What if the number of students is very large?
The Normal Probability Distribution
Also called the Gaussian Curve
• Carl Friedrich Gauss
(1777–1855)
• German
mathematician and
physicist
The Z-score
Example
• A teacher conducted a summative test in mathematics for
the 50 students in his class. We make the assumption that
when the scores are presented on a histogram, the data is
found to be normally distributed. The mean score is 60 out
of 100 and the standard deviation (in other words, the
variation in the scores) is 15 marks.
• If a student named Joyce scored 70 in the test, then her z-
score is (x-mu)/sigma = (70-60)/15 = 0.67
Standard Normal Distribution
Properties of the Standard Normal
Distribution
• The scores cluster in the middle, and
they ‘‘thin out’’ toward either end.
• It is a balanced or symmetrical
distribution.
• The mean, median, and mode all fall on
the same point.
• The curve is ‘‘asymptotic’’ to the x axis
(lapit nang lapit . . . pinagtagpo ngunit ‘di
tinadhana).
• Total area under the curve is 1.
Areas Under the Standard Normal Curve
Finding the Area Under
the Normal Curve
Example 1: Find the area between the z-
scores -1.96 and -1.35.
• P(-1.96 < Z < -1.35) = P(Z < -1.35) – P(Z < -
1.96)
• Using the Excel formula
=NORM.S.DIST(-1.35, TRUE),
the area is P(Z < -1.35) = 0.0885
• =NORM.S.DIST(-1.96, TRUE),
the area is P(Z < -1.96) = 0.025
• P(Z < -1.35) – P(Z < -1.96) = 0.0885 –
0.0250 = 0.0635 or 6.35%
Example 2: Find the area below the z-score
0.75.
• =NORM.S.DIST(0.75
, TRUE) displays the
result 0.7734.
• P(Z < 0.75) = 0.7734 or
77.34%
Example 3: Find the area above the z-score
-1.09.
• =NORM.S.DIST(-1.09,
TRUE) displays the result
0.1379
• P(Z > -1.09) = 1 – P(Z < -1.09)
= 1 – 0.1379 = 0.8621 or
86.21%
How well did Joyce perform in her math test
compared to the other 50 students?
P(Z < 0.67) = 0.7486
which means Joyce
performed better
than 74.86% of the
class

Joyce’s z score
= 0.67
Who made it to the top 10%?
• Students with at least
79.23 math scores
belonged to the top 10%.
Activity 1: Work in pairs with your Excel®.
Write your answers in a sheet of paper.
• Download the Excel file “GRADE 8 DATA”, and do the following:
• 1. Find the measures of central tendency and dispersion of the
SELF_EFFICACY variable. Construct a histogram for the variable and why or
why not it represents a normally distributed variable.
• 2. Construct appropriate descriptive graphs for the variables SOCIOECON
and HONORS. (Note: Make a frequency table first using the COUNTIF
function.) Interpret the graphs.
• 3. Standardize the variable SELF_EFFICACY. Give 5 scores with
corresponding z-scores.
• 4. Find the approximate percentage of students with self-efficacy scores
between 50 and 75, below 45, and above 80.