SH1923
Normal Distribution
The Normal Curve
The most important of all continuous probability distributions is the normal distribution. Its graph, called the
normal curve, is a bell-shaped curve. It lies entirely above the horizontal axis. It is symmetrical, unimodal, and
asymptotic to the horizontal axis.
Properties of the Normal Curve
• The entire family of the normal probability distributions is differentiated by two (2) parameters: the mean
𝜇 and the standard deviation 𝜎.
• The highest point on the normal curve is at the mean, which is also the median and mode of the
distribution.
• The mean of the distribution can be any numerical value: the negative, zero, or positive.
• The normal distribution is symmetric, with the shape of the normal curve to the left of the mean a mirror
image of the shape of the normal curve to the right of the mean.
• The standard deviation determines how flat and wide the normal curve is.
• The total area under the curve for the normal distribution is 1.
The Empirical Rule
The empirical rule, also known as the three-sigma rule or the 68-95-99.7 rule, provides a quick estimate of the
spread of data in a normal distribution given the mean and standard deviation.
For a distribution that is symmetrical and bell-shaped (in particular, for a normal distribution):
• Approximately 68% of the data values will lie within 1 standard deviation on each side of the mean.
• Approximately 95% of the data values will lie within 2 standard deviations on each side of the mean.
• Approximately 99.7% (or almost all) of the data values will lie within 3 standard deviations on each side
of the mean.
Formula for 𝒛-scores
The 𝑧 value or 𝑧 score gives the number of standard deviations between a measurement 𝑥 and the mean 𝜇 of
the 𝑥 distribution.
𝑥−𝜇
𝑧=
𝜎
𝒙 Value in Original Distribution Corresponding 𝒛 Value or Standard Unit
𝑥=𝜇 𝑧=0
𝑥>𝜇 𝑧>0
𝑥<𝜇 𝑧<0
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SH1923
Standard Normal Distribution
The standard normal distribution is a normal distribution with mean 𝜇=0 and standard deviation 𝜎=1. Any normal
distribution of x values can be converted to the standard normal distribution by converting all x values to the
corresponding x values to their corresponding z values. The resulting standard distribution will always have
mean 𝜇=0 and standard deviation 𝜎=1
References:
Empirical Rule. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.chegg.com/homework-help/definitions/empirical-rule-31.
Understanding basic statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=bJUYBQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false.
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