1. The Normal Distribution

2. The properties of a normal distribution:
It is a bell-shaped curve.
It is symmetrical about the mean, μ. (The mean, the mode and the median all have the same value).
The x-axis is an asymptote to the curve.
The total area under the curve is 1 (or 100%).
50% of the area is to the left of the mean, and 50% to the right.
Approximately 68% of the area is within 1 standard deviation, σ, of the mean.
Approximately 95% of the area is within 2 standard deviations of the mean.
Approximately 99% of the area is within 3 standard deviations of the mean
The expected value is found by multiplying the number in the sample by the probability.

3. The properties of a normal distribution:
It is a bell-shaped curve.
It is symmetrical about the mean, μ. (The mean, the mode and the median all have the same value).
The x-axis is an asymptote to the curve.
The total area under the curve is 1 (or 100%).
50% of the area is to the left of the mean, and 50% to the right. μ

4. The properties of a normal distribution:
It is a bell-shaped curve.
It is symmetrical about the mean, μ. (The mean, the mode and the median all have the same value).
The x-axis is an asymptote to the curve.
The total area under the curve is 1 (or 100%).
50% of the area is to the left of the mean, and 50% to the right.
50%
50% μ

5. The properties of a normal distribution:
It is a bell-shaped curve.
It is symmetrical about the mean, μ. (The mean, the mode and the median all have the same value).
The x-axis is an asymptote to the curve.
The total area under the curve is 1 (or 100%).
50% of the area is to the left of the mean, and 50% to the right.
Approximately 68% of the area is within 1 standard deviation, σ, of the mean.
68% σ σ
μ - σ μ
μ + σ

6. The properties of a normal distribution:
It is a bell-shaped curve.
It is symmetrical about the mean, μ. (The mean, the mode and the median all have the same value).
The x-axis is an asymptote to the curve.
The total area under the curve is 1 (or 100%).
50% of the area is to the left of the mean, and 50% to the right.
Approximately 68% of the area is within 1 standard deviation, σ, of the mean.
Approximately 95% of the area is within 2 standard deviations of the mean.
95% σ σ σ σ
μ - 2σ
μ - σ μ
μ + σ
μ + 2σ

7. The properties of a normal distribution:
It is a bell-shaped curve.
It is symmetrical about the mean, μ. (The mean, the mode and the median all have the same value).
The x-axis is an asymptote to the curve.
The total area under the curve is 1 (or 100%).
50% of the area is to the left of the mean, and 50% to the right.
Approximately 68% of the area is within 1 standard deviation, σ, of the mean.
Approximately 95% of the area is within 2 standard deviations of the mean.
Approximately 99% of the area is within 3 standard deviations of the mean.
99% σ σ σ σ σ σ
μ - 3σ
μ - 2σ
μ - σ μ
μ + σ
μ + 2σ
μ + 3σ

8. Example 1
The waiting times for a elevator are normally distributed with a mean of 1.5 minutes and a standard distribution of 20 seconds.
Sketch a normal distribution diagram to illustrate this information, indicating clearly the mean and the times within one, two and three standard deviations of the mean.
Find the probability that a person waits longer than 2 minutes 10 seconds for the elevator.
Find the probability that a person waits less than 1 minute 10 seconds for the elevator.
200 people are observed and the length of time they wait for an elevator is noted.
Calculate the number of people expected to wait less than 50 seconds for the elevator.

9. Find the expected number of woman with a height greater than 1.8m.
Example 2
The heights of 250 twenty-year-old women are normally distributed with a mean of 1.68m and standard deviation of 0.06m.
Sketch a normal distribution diagram to illustrate this information, indicating clearly the mean and the heights within one, two and three standard deviations of the mean.
Find the probability that a woman has a height between 1.56m and 1.74m.
Find the expected number of woman with a height greater than 1.8m.

10. Find the probability that a packet contains more than 250ml.
You can use the GDC to calculate values that are not whole multiples of the standard deviation (or of course even if they are!)
Packets of coconut milk are advertised to contain 250ml. Akshat tests 75 packets He finds that the contents are normally distributed with a mean volume of 255ml and a standard deviation of 8 ml.
Find the probability that a packet contains more than 250ml. μ
255
First sketch a normal distribution diagram:
μ – σ
247
μ + σ
263
Enter the values: Lower Bound, Upper Bound, μ, σ in order, with commas between.
μ - 2σ
239
μ + 2σ
271
μ - 3σ
231
μ + 3σ
279
In this case: 250, 1E99, 255, 8)
Or: 250, 500, 255,8)
You could just type in a very large/small number (larger/smaller than μ +/- 3σ )
The solution on the calculator is
So the probability that a packet contains more than 250ml is or 73.4%

11. The solution on the calculator is 0.0294532933
Example 3
The lifetime of a light bulb is normally distributed with a mean of 2800 hours and a standard deviation of 450 hours.
Find the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of less than 1950 hours.
Find the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of between 2300 and 3500 hours.
Find the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of more than 3800 hours.
2.95% μ
2800
Sketching the normal distribution diagram gives a clear idea of what is happening.
μ – σ
2350
μ + σ
3250
Enter the values: Lower Bound, Upper Bound, μ, σ in order, with commas between.
μ - 2σ
1900
μ + 2σ
3700
μ - 3σ
1450
μ + 3σ
4150
In this case: -1E99, 1950, 2800, 450)
Or: 0, 1950, 2800, 450)
The solution on the calculator is
So the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of less than 1950 hours is 2.95%
You can see from the sketch that indeed the answer should be a little more than 2.5%, because there would be 2.5% with a lifetime of less than 1900 hours.

12. The solution on the calculator is 0.8068327753
Example 3
The lifetime of a light bulb is normally distributed with a mean of 2800 hours and a standard deviation of 450 hours.
Find the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of less than 1950 hours.
Find the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of between 2300 and 3500 hours.
Find the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of more than 3800 hours.
2.95%
80.7% μ
2800
Sketching the normal distribution diagram gives a clear idea of what is happening.
μ – σ
2350
μ + σ
3250
Enter the values: Lower Bound, Upper Bound, μ, σ in order, with commas between.
μ - 2σ
1900
μ + 2σ
3700
μ - 3σ
1450
μ + 3σ
4150
b) In this case: 2300, 3500, 2800, 450)
The solution on the calculator is
So the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of between 2300 and 3500 hours is 80.7%

13. The solution on the calculator is 0.0131341011
Example 3
The lifetime of a light bulb is normally distributed with a mean of 2800 hours and a standard deviation of 450 hours.
Find the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of less than 1950 hours.
Find the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of between 2300 and 3500 hours.
Find the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of more than 3800 hours.
2.95%
80.7% μ
2800
1.31%
Sketching the normal distribution diagram gives a clear idea of what is happening.
μ – σ
2350
μ + σ
3250
Enter the values: Lower Bound, Upper Bound, μ, σ in order, with commas between.
μ - 2σ
1900
μ + 2σ
3700
μ - 3σ
1450
μ + 3σ
4150
In this case: 3800, 1E99, 2800, 450)
Or: 3800, 0, 2800, 450)
The solution on the calculator is
So the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of of more than 3800 hours is 1.31%

14. The solution on the calculator is 0.0377201305
Example 3
The lifetime of a light bulb is normally distributed with a mean of 2800 hours and a standard deviation of 450 hours.
Find the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of less than 1950 hours.
Find the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of between 2300 and 3500 hours.
Find the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of more than 3800 hours.
2.95%
80.7% μ
2800
1.31%
120 light bulbs are tested.
d) Find the expected number of light bulbs with a lifetime of less than 2000 hours.
μ – σ
2350
μ + σ
3250
Enter the values: Lower Bound, Upper Bound, μ, σ in order, with commas between.
μ - 2σ
1900
μ + 2σ
3700
μ - 3σ
1450
μ + 3σ
4150
d) In this case: -1E99, 2000, 2800, 450)
The solution on the calculator is
So the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of more than 3800 hours is 3.77%
120 x = ….
So you would expect 4 or 5 light bulbs

15. Inverse normal calculations
Sometimes you are given the percentage area under the curve, i.e. the probability or the proportion, and you are asked to find the value corresponding to it. This is called an inverse normal calculation.
Always make a sketch to illustrate the information given.
You must always remember to use the area to the left when using your GDC. If you are given the area to the right of the value, you must subtract this from 1 (or 100%) before using your GDC.
95% 5%
For example, an area of 5% above a certain value means there is an area of 95% below it.

16. The shaded area represents 10% of the cartons.
Example 4
The volume of cartons of milk is normally distributed with a mean of 995ml and a standard deviation of 5ml.
It is known that 10% of the cartons have a volume of less than x. Find the value of x.
989ml
Sketching the normal distribution diagram gives a clear idea of what is happening.
The shaded area represents 10% of the cartons.
Enter the percentage given as a decimal, the mean, and the standard deviation, in order, with commas between.
In this case: 0.1, 995, 5)
The solution on the calculator is
So x = 989ml (to 3 sig. fig.)

17. Find the percentage of pears that weigh between 100g and 130g.
Example 5
The weights of pears are normally distributed with a mean of 110g and a standard deviation of 8g.
Find the percentage of pears that weigh between 100g and 130g.
It is known that 8% of the pears weigh more than m g. Find the value of m.
250 pears are weighed. Calculate the expected number of pears that weigh less than 105g. μ
110
μ – σ
102
μ + σ
118
μ - 2σ 94
μ + 2σ
126
μ - 3σ 86
μ + 3σ
134
Sketch a diagram. μ = 110g σ = 8g

18. Find the percentage of pears that weigh between 100g and 130g.
Example 5
The weights of pears are normally distributed with a mean of 110g and a standard deviation of 8g.
Find the percentage of pears that weigh between 100g and 130g. μ
110
μ – σ
102
μ + σ
118
μ - 2σ 94
μ + 2σ
126
μ - 3σ 86
μ + 3σ
134
Sketch a diagram. μ = 110g σ = 8g
Enter the values: Lower Bound, Upper Bound, μ, σ in order, with commas between.
a) In this case: 100, 130, 110, 8)
The solution on the calculator is
So the percentage of pears that weigh between 100g and 130g is

19. Find the percentage of pears that weigh between 100g and 130g.
Example 5
The weights of pears are normally distributed with a mean of 110g and a standard deviation of 8g.
Find the percentage of pears that weigh between 100g and 130g.
It is known that 8% of the pears weigh more than m g. Find the value of m. μ
110
μ – σ
102
μ + σ
118
μ - 2σ 94
μ + 2σ
126
μ - 3σ 86
μ + 3σ
134
Sketch a diagram. μ = 110g σ = 8g
Enter the percentage given as a decimal, the mean, and the standard deviation, in order, with commas between.
In this case the 8% of the pears are to the right of m, so 92% are to the left of m.
In this case: 0.92, 110, 8)
The solution on the calculator is
So m = (to 3 sig. fig.)

20. Find the percentage of pears that weigh between 100g and 130g.
Example 5
The weights of pears are normally distributed with a mean of 110g and a standard deviation of 8g.
Find the percentage of pears that weigh between 100g and 130g.
It is known that 8% of the pears weigh more than m g. Find the value of m.
250 pears are weighed. Calculate the expected number of pears that weigh less than 105g. μ
110
μ – σ
102
μ + σ
118
μ - 2σ 94
μ + 2σ
126
μ - 3σ 86
μ + 3σ
134
Sketch a diagram. μ = 110g σ = 8g
Enter the values: Lower Bound, Upper Bound, μ, σ in order, with commas between.
a) In this case: -1E99, 105, 110, 8)
The solution on the calculator is
So the percentage of pears that weigh between 100g and 130g is 26.6%.c
250 x = 66.5, so the expected number of pears that weigh less than 105g is