IB Studies

Name: __________________

The normal distribution

Probabilities using a calculator
Quantiles or k values

The normal distribution

Ms Migdanis

The Normal Distribution

A continuous random variable is a variable which can take any real

value within a certain range. We usually denote random variables by a
capital letter such as X. Individual measurements of this variable are
denoted by the corresponding lower case letter x.
For a continuous variable X, the probability that X is exactly equal to a
particular value is zero. So, P(X = a) = 0 for all a.
For a continuous variable we can only talk about the probability that an
event lies in an interval.
The normal distribution is the most important distribution for a
continuous random variable.

The properties of a normal distribution

It is a bell shaped curve.

It is symmetrical about the mean, . (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.
In a normal distribution:
Approximately 68% of the area is within 1 standard deviation,

the mean.
Approximately 95% of the area is within 2 standard deviation of the
mean.
Approximately 99% of the area is within 3 standard deviation of the
mean.

Example 1:

of

Experience has shown that the scores obtained on a commonly used

IQ test can be assumed to be normally distributed with a mean of
100 and a standard deviation of 15. Approximately what percentage
of the distribution lies:
a) between 85 and 115?

b) Between 70 and 130?

c) Between 55 and 145?

Example 2:
In an exam x =60 and n =12 . What percentage of candidates in
the
exam scored above 84?

Example 3:
The lifetime of a light globe is normally distributed with a mean of
2800 hours and a standard deviation of 450 hours.

a) Find the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of less

than 1950 hours.

b) Find the percentage of light bulbs that have a lifetime of more

than 3800 hours.

c) Find the probability that a light bulb has a lifetime between

2300 and 3500 hours.

1200 light bulbs are tested

d) Find the expected number of light bulbs with a lifetime of less
than 2000 hours.

Probabilities using the calculator

If a continuous variable X is normally distributed with mean
and standard deviation , we write
X N ( , 2) .
Example 1:
STATS mode
F5 (DIST)
F1 (Norm)
F2 (Ncd)

If X N (10, 2.32) , find these probabilities

Illustrate your results.
a)

P(8 X 11)

Lower: ____
Upper: ____
: ____
: ____
EXE:

b)

P( X 12)

____

____

____

Lower: ____
Upper: ____
: ____
: ____

EXE:
c)

P( X > 9)

Lower: ____
Upper: ____
: ____
: ____
EXE:

Example 2:
Eels are washed onto a beach after a storm.
Their lengths have a normal distribution with
mean 41 cm and standard deviation deviation 5.5
cm.
How many eels from a sample of 200 would you
expect to measure at least 45cm in length?
Lower: ____
Upper: ____
: ____

STATS mode
F5 (DIST)
F1 (Norm)
F2 (Ncd)

 : ____
EXE:

____

You can calculate the probabilities of events that follow a normal

distribution.
The expected value is found by multiplying
the number in the sample by the
probability.

Quantiles OR k values
Consider a population of crabs where the length of a shell, X mm, is
normally distributed with mean 70 mm and standard deviation 10 mm.
A biologist wants to protect the population by allowing only the largest
5% of crabs to be harvested. He therefore asks a question:
95% of crabs have lengths less than what?.
To answer the question we need to find k such that

P ( X k )=0.95 .

The number k is known as a quantile, and in this case the 95%

quantile.
When finding quantiles we are given a probability and are asked to
calculate the corresponding measurement. This is the inverse of finding
probabilities, and we use the inverse normal function on our
calculator.

Inverse normal calculations

Sometimes you are given the percentage area under the curve, i.e. the
probability or proportion, and are asked to find the value corresponding
to it. This is called the 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.
For example, an area of 5% above a certain
value means there is an area of 95% below it.

95%
5%

Example 1:
If

X N (23.6, 3.12) ,

find k for which P ( X <k ) =0.95 .

Area: ______
:

______

: ____

STATS mode
F5 (DIST)
F1 (Norm)
F3 (InvN)

Example 2:
The volume of cartons of milk is normally distributed with a mean of
995 ml and a standard deviation of 5 ml.
It is known that 10% of the cartons have a volume less than x ml.
Find the value of x.
First sketch a diagram.
The shaded area represents 10% of the cartons.
Use GDC
Area: ______
:

______

: ____

x = _____ ml means that 10% of the cartons have

a volume less than 989 ml.

Example 3:
A university professor determines that 80% of this years History
candidates should pass the final examination. The examination results
were approximately normally distributed with mean 62 and standard
deviation 12. Find the lowest score necessary to pass the examination.

Let X denote the final examination result, so

X N ( 2),

We need to find k such that P ( X k )=0.8

P ( X k )=0.2
Tail: ______
Area: ______
:

______

: ____

Example 4:
Suppose

X N (30, 52)

and

P ( X a )=0.57 .

a) Using a diagram, determine whether a is greater or less than 30.

b) Use technology to find a.

Tail: ______
Area: ______
:

______

: ____

c) Without using technology, find:

i)

P( X a)

ii)

P(30 X a)