Normal Probability Distribution

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT a property of a normal distribution?

  • The curve always touches the x-axis. (correct)
  • The curve is bell-shaped and symmetric about the mean.
  • The mean, median, and mode are equal.
  • The total area under the curve is equal to 1.

What does the standard deviation of a normal distribution determine?

  • Whether the distribution is symmetric.
  • The location of the center of the distribution.
  • The total area under the curve.
  • The height and width of the curve. (correct)

What is the primary purpose of standardizing a normal distribution?

  • To make the mean equal to the standard deviation.
  • To easily compare different normal distributions. (correct)
  • To change the shape of the distribution from bell-shaped to uniform.
  • To ensure the total area under the curve is greater than 1.

What are the mean and standard deviation of the standard normal distribution, respectively?

<p>Mean = 0, Standard Deviation = 1 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If a normal distribution has a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10, what value is one standard deviation above the mean?

<p>60 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the z-score formula used for?

<p>Transforming a normal distribution into a standard normal distribution. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a normal distribution, approximately what percentage of the data falls within one standard deviation of the mean?

<p>68% (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true about the cumulative area under the standard normal curve?

<p>It increases as the z-scores increase. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When using a standard normal table, what does the value at the intersection of a row and column represent?

<p>The cumulative probability. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of inflection points on a normal distribution curve?

<p>To show where the curve changes from curving upward to downward. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A shoe manufacturer wants to determine the most common shoe size for women. Which statistical distribution would be most helpful in this case?

<p>Normal distribution (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the shape of a normal distribution curve when the standard deviation increases?

<p>It becomes shorter and wider. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does a normal curve's graph shift when the mean changes?

<p>It shifts to the left or right. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the probability density function (pdf) used for in the context of continuous probability distributions?

<p>Graphing a normal curve with a specific mean and standard deviation. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If a student scores in the 84th percentile on a normally distributed test, approximately how many standard deviations above the mean is their score?

<p>1 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following real-world examples typically follows a normal distribution pattern?

<p>The height of adult humans. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Given a normal distribution, if a data point has a z-score of 0, what does this indicate?

<p>The data point is equal to the mean. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When transforming a normal distribution into a standard normal distribution, what values do the mean and standard deviation take, respectively?

<p>Mean = 0, Standard Deviation = 1 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If the area under the normal curve to the left of z = 1.96 is approximately 0.975, what does this imply?

<p>97.5% of the data lies to the left of z = 1.96. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

For a normal distribution, what is the relationship between the mean, median, and mode?

<p>Mean = Median = Mode (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What value does the total area under a normal distribution curve always equal?

<p>1 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Under what condition is the normal distribution bell-shaped and symmetric?

<p>Always, by definition. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What would be the impact of a larger value for the standard deviation, assuming the mean stays constant?

<p>The distribution graph becomes wider. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

You're using a standard normal table to find the area to the left of $z = -1.5$. Which value must you look up?

<p>0.0668 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do you find the area between $ a $ and $ b $ using the standard normal table, assuming $ a $ and $ b $ are on either side of the mean?

<p>Convert a and b to z-scores, find area left of a and area left of b, and add the area values (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Imagine two normally distributed groups of test scores are being evaluated. Group A has a mean of 70 and Group B has a mean of 80 with equivalent standard deviations. How would their respective distribution graph compare?

<p>The graph for Group B is shifted to the right of Group A. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 'empirical rule' in the context of a normal distribution?

<p>It states the percentage of data lying within 1, 2, and 3 standard deviations from the mean (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

We wish to transform a normal curve into a standard normal distribution to use our standard lookup table. What needs to be done?

<p>The 'units' are converted from $ x $ to $ z $, which means our mean is now zero, and SD is equal to 1 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Given 2 sets of data (1 and 2) are distributed normally, where data 1 and 2 have a mean and SD of ($ \mu_1, \sigma_1 $) and ($ \mu_2, \sigma_2 $), respectively. Under what scenario are we required to standardize one or both datasets?

<p>If direct comparison is desired, for any combination of ($\mu, \sigma$) (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When using a Z-table to compute the area under the curve to the right of $ z = 1.0 $, we typically...

<p>use the Z-table to compute area to the left, then subtract from total area (1) (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When referring to z-scores, an appropriate description includes...

<p>relative position of standard deviations from the set's mean (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

During data analysis, what is the primary reason for converting raw scores into z-scores?

<p>To transform the data into a standard form, facilitating comparisons across different distributions (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic distinguishes a normal distribution from a standard normal distribution?

<p>A standard normal distribution has a mean of 0 and standard deviation of 1. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What steps should be taken to solve a problem that requires finding the area under a normal curve for a given range of values?

<p>Standardize values to z-scores, use a z-table to find the area, and adjust based on the problem's requirements (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How will an increased standard deviation affect the kurtosis of the normal distribution?

<p>It decreases the kurtosis by flattening the distribution. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If two data sets have the same range and number of data points, which descriptive statistic would be most helpful in distinguishing whether the distributions are normal?

<p>Skewness (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A researcher converts a data set which has 150 data points sampled a normal distribution, and computes a z-table to compute are under the curve within a boundary. Which best approximates a limitation associated with using this cumulative probabilities z lookup method?

<p>Interpolating and using these tables may lead to accuracy issues compared to advanced techniques. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Normal/Gaussian Distribution

A bell-shaped graph representing the distribution of data, characterized by its mean and standard deviation.

Normal Curve

The graph of a normal distribution.

Mean (μ)

A measure of central tendency; the average value.

Standard Deviation (σ)

A measure of the spread or dispersion of data points around the mean.

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Normal Distribution: Central Tendency

The mean, median, and mode are the same value in a normal distribution.

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Normal Distribution: Symmetry

The curve is bell-shaped and symmetrical around the mean. Each half mirrors the other.

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Normal Distribution: Total Area

The total area under the normal curve is equal to 1, representing the total probability of all possible outcomes.

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Normal Curve: X-Axis

The curve approaches, but never touches, the x-axis as it extends away from the mean.

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Inflection Points

Points where the curve changes from curving upward to curving downward.

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68% Empirical Rule

Approximately 68% of the data falls within one standard deviation from the mean.

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95% Empirical Rule

Approximately 95% of the data falls within two standard deviations from the mean.

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99.7% Empirical Rule

Approximately 99.7% of the data falls within three standard deviations from the mean.

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Mean Affects Location

Changes the location of the center of the bell-shaped curve.

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Standard Deviation affects Shape

Determines the shape of the graph (height and width). A larger value indicates a wider, shorter curve. A smaller value indicates a skinnier, taller graph.

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Probability Density Function (PDF)

A quantity that can be graphed demonstrating the normal probability.

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Why Standardize?

To easily compare different normal distributions that can vary in spread, position, or units

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Normal Distribution traits

Normal distribution can have any mean and any standard deviation.

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Normal Distribution Units

Units are measured as x.

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Area under the curve can be found using

The area under the curve of a normal distribution can be found using the empirical rule.

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Standard Normal Distribution traits

Has a fixed mean of 0 and standard deviation of 1.

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Standard Normal Distribution Units

Units are measured as Z.

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standard normal distribution

The normal distribution with a mean of 0 and standard deviation of 1

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z-score

Indicates the number of standard deviations a value lies from the mean.

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Standard Normal Distribution, cumulative area

The cumulative area is close to 0 for z-scores close to z = -3.49.

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Standard Normal Distribution: trends

The cumulative area increases as the z-scores increase.

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Standard Normal Distribution: Cumulative area

The cumulative area for z = 0 is 0.5000.

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Cumulative area is close to

The cumulative area is close to 1 for z-scores close to z = 3.49.

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Study Notes

  • Session focuses on continuous probability distributions.
  • Specifically looks at the normal distribution.
  • By the end of the session, the goal is to define, illustrate, and describe normal random variables, understand the properties of normally distributed random variables, and define and illustrate standard normal distributions.
  • Also to transform a normal distribution into a standard normal distribution using z-scores, and find areas under the standard normal curve using a standard normal table.

Normal Distribution Basics

  • A Normal/Gaussian Distribution is a bell-shaped graph, encompassing the mean and standard deviation.
  • The graph of a normal distribution is known as the normal curve.

Examples of Normal Distribution

  • Height.
  • Rolling a Dice.
  • Tossing a coin.
  • IQ.
  • Shoe Size.
  • Birth Weight.

Properties of a Normal Distribution

  • The mean, median, and mode are equal.
  • The normal curve is bell-shaped and symmetric around the mean.
  • The total area under the normal curve equals 1.
  • The normal curve approaches, but never touches, the x-axis, extending away from the mean.
  • The empirical rule states that approximately 68% of the area under the normal curve falls within one standard deviation from the mean.
  • Approximately 95% falls within two standard deviations.
  • Nearly everything approx 99.7%, falls within three standard deviations.
  • The graph of the normal distribution depends on the mean (µ) and standard deviation (σ).
  • The mean determines the center's location.
  • Changes in the mean shift the graph left or right.
  • The standard deviation determines the graphs' shapes (height and width).
  • A larger standard deviation results in a shorter, wider curve.
  • A smaller standard deviation gives a skinnier, taller graph.
  • A probability density function (pdf) can be used for a continuous probability distribution.
  • A normal curve with mean µ and standard deviation σ can be graphed using the normal probability density function.

Standard Normal Distribution

  • Transforming each data value of a normally distributed random variable x into a z-score results in a standard normal distribution.
  • A normal distribution is standardized to easily compare normal distributions with variance.
  • This variance can be in spread, position, or units of measure.
  • A normal distribution can have any mean and standard deviation.
  • Units are denoted by x.
  • The area under the curve is found using the empirical rule.
  • Standard normal distribution has a fixed mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1.
  • The units are denoted by z.
  • The area under the curve is found using the standard normal table.
  • The normal distribution with a mean of 0 and standard deviation of 1 is the standard normal distribution.
  • The horizontal scale of the standard normal distribution corresponds to z-scores.
  • A z-score measures position, indicating how many standard deviations a value is from the mean.
  • The cumulative area is close to 0 for z-scores close to z = -3.49 and close to 1 for z-scores close to z = 3.49.
  • The cumulative area increases as the z-scores increase.
  • The cumulative area for z = 0 is 0.5000.

Using the Standard Normal Table

  • To find area (probability) using the table: locate the first two digits (tenth value) at the column part, and the last digit (hundredth value) on the uppermost row.
  • The intersection of the two grids gives the required area.
  • The area shown in a normal table is half of the normal curve, totaling approximately 50% or 0.5.
  • The reference point is the Mean at the center.

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