Revised 2002

Statistics
Show #3 of 3
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The NORMAL Curve

Properties
&
Example

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 Properties of the Normal Curve
•Bell
It is important
Shapedto (symmetric)
remember thatdistribution
this rule applies only to
NORMALLY DISTRIBUTED DATA.
•Mean = Median ( is the mathematical symbol used
Using the mean and standard deviation to describe the spread
for this measure of center)
of the data can be done for any set of data.
•The standard deviation() is used for the measure of
Just because you choose this measure of spread does not
spread.
mean that the rule applies!
THE 68-95-99.7 RULE
•Approximately 68% of the data lies within 1 standard
deviation of the mean
•Approximately 95% of the data lies within 2 standard
deviations of the mean
•Approximately 99.7% of the data lies within 3
standard deviations of the mean.
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 A brief explanation...Percentile ranks…
• A percentile rank indicates a place in any set of data where a certain
percentage of the data falls AT or BELOW.
• For example, the MEDIAN is the 50th percentile,
• which means that 50% of the data values are EQUAL TO or LESS THAN
that median.
• It can also be said that the MEDIAN is greater than or equal to 50% of the
data values in the set.
50% of95%theofdata
the that
dataisthat
theissame
the same M
as or as or less than some data value, D.
D
...SET
This
less than OFvalue
M.value
This DATA…
(D) (M)
is also (a
is also ranked
called thelist of all
95th the values in the
%ile set)
called the 50th %ile 5% of
the data
values
• Another example…
• The 95th percentile (95%ile) for a set of data would be...
• that data value that is greater than or equal to 95% of all of the data
values in the set.
• Notice, also that it is less than or equal to 5% of the values in the set
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 Percentile ranks and the Normal Distribution…
• So, if you know that one property of a Normal Distribution is that 68% of
the data lies within 1 standard deviation from the mean...
• And you know that the mean = median for this type of distribution...
• You can say something about percentile ranks for this set of data...
50%ile
...SET OF NormallyM
distributed DATA…
M
Measure one s.d. to the left
34%
and 68%
one toof
thethe
34%
data
right of M.
• You know that M =16%ile This is where you find 68%84%ile
50%ile
• and you know that a NORMALof the data.
DISTRIBUTION means that the data is
SYMMETRIC about that data value…
• So, 34% of the data is in that part of the set of values that is one standard
deviation to the left of M
• and 34% is in the set to the right of M
• To find the percentile rank for the value to the LEFT of the mean, subtract:
50% -34% = 16%ile
• Similarly, on the other side, 50% + 34% = 84%ile Watch! 5
 Using the properties of the Normal Curve...
You can
• Bell use
Shaped the 68-95-99.7
(symmetric) distribution rule to determine
• Mean = Median () = 50th percentile
percentile ranks
• The standard for other
deviation() points
is used for on the
the measure Normal
of spread.
Curve...
• 68-95-99.7 rule...

DISTRIBUTION OF VALUES:

.15% 2.5% 16% 50% 84% 97.5% 99.85%

68%

95%

99.7%

-3 -2 -   +  + 2 + 3
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 Normal Curve… common notation
Another common notation that is used when describing normally
DISTRIBUTION OF VALUES:
distributed data is called a STANDARD VALUE (standard score, z-
score) using STANDARD SCORES (Z-SCORES)
• (ex.)
This a simply
notation standard
usesscore(z-score) of as a “standard unit, “
the standard deviation
and describes how far+1away
= an(inactual score
standard of +each actual data
deviations)
value is from the mean.
• (ex.) a z-score of -3 = an actual score of -3
The sign of the standard value16%
.15% 2.5% indicates
50%its direction
84% 97.5%from the mean.
99.85%

-3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3
-3 -2 -   +  + 2 + 3
Each actual data value corresponds to a standard value. 7
 Application of the Normal Curve
DISTRIBUTION OF VALUES
for weights of adult women whose height is approximately 5ft. 5 in.:

 = 134 pounds  = 6 pounds

.15% 2.5% 16% 50% 84% 97.5% 99.85%

-3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3
116 122 128 134 140 146 152
Weights in pounds

Put the actual values on the graph and complete the application 8
 Application of the Normal Curve
DISTRIBUTION OF VALUES for weights of adult women whose height is
approximately 5ft. 5 in.:  = 134 pounds  = 6 pounds

.15% 2.5% 16% 50% 84% 97.5% 99.85%

75%

116 122 128 134 140 146 152

(a) A woman weighing 140 lb. will be in which percentile? 84th %ile

(b) A woman weighing 122 lb. will be in which percentile?

2.5th %ile
(c) A woman the 75th percentile will weigh
approximately…? About 137 pounds
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 Application Analysis
• DISTRIBUTION OF VALUES for weights of adult women whose
height is approximately 5ft. 5 in.:  = 134 pounds =6
pounds
• (a) A woman weighing 140 lb. will be in the 84th percentile:

84 percent of women in this height category

weigh 140 lb or less. (also, 16% weigh more than 140)
• (b) A woman weighing 122 lb. will be in the 2.5th percentile:
2.5 percent of women
weigh 122 lb or less.(and 97.5% weigh more)
• (c) A woman in the 75th percentile will weigh approximately…?

The 75th percentile is between the 50th and 84th;

There are charts that can help you estimate more
therefore, the weight is between 134 and 140
accurately between the standard percentiles; but we
lb
won’t discuss them here. 10
 Analysis Using the Normal Distribution...
• Many distributions that occur naturally exhibit a normal
(or nearly normal) tendency…
– Weights of children
– Weights of adults in certain height categories
– Scores on state-wide or national tests
– etc…
• The properties exhibited by normally distributed data
allow us to make predictions about similar sets of data,
• and to draw conclusions about these sets without having
to handle each piece of data.
• See your text for more examples of normal distributions
and the uses of their properties!
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 End of show #3

This is the final show in the

Statistics Unit

REVISED 2002
Prepared by Kimberly Conti, SUNY College @ Fredonia
Suggestions and comments to: Kimberly.Conti@fredonia.edu
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