Skip to content

From a value to a percentage: a part of a normal distribution

From a value to a percentage: a part of a normal distribution

Four steps

The part of normally distributed data below a value x\displaystyle x, above it or between two values is found in four steps:

  1. the standard score: z=x−μσ\displaystyle {z}={\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma}}, rounded to two decimal places;
  2. from the table: Φ(z)\displaystyle \Phi(z), the area to the left of z\displaystyle z;
  3. the area wanted: Φ(z)\displaystyle \Phi(z) below the value, 1−Φ(z)\displaystyle 1-\Phi(z) above it, or the difference of two values from the table;
  4. if needed: a percentage (times 100), or the number of people (times the number tested in all).

A sketch of the curve with the wanted area shaded helps: it shows whether the area is on the left, on the right or in the middle.

Example: above a value

The marks in the entrance exam for a computing course are normally distributed.
The mean is 53, and the standard deviation 11.5.
4,500 people sat the exam.
About how many of them scored more than 65?

18.53041.55364.57687.5Entrance exam mark
  • z=65−5311.5≈1.04\displaystyle {z}={\frac{65-53}{11.5}\approx1.04}.
  • Φ(1.04)=0.8508\displaystyle {\Phi(1.04)}={0.8508}.
  • P(X>65)=1−0.8508=0.1492\displaystyle {P(X>65)}={1-0.8508}={0.1492}: about 14.92% of those who sat the exam.
  • 4500⋅0.1492≈671\displaystyle 4500\cdot0.1492\approx671 people.
Example: between two values

The marks in a test are normally distributed, with mean 71 and standard deviation 15.
What part of the pupils got a mark between 62 and 92?

2641567186101116Test mark
  • z1=62−7115=−0.6\displaystyle {z_1}={\frac{62-71}{15}}={-0.6}, and z2=92−7115=1.4\displaystyle {z_2}={\frac{92-71}{15}}={1.4}.
  • P(62<X<92)=Φ(1.4)−Φ(−0.6)=0.9192−0.2743=0.6449\displaystyle {P(62<X<92)}={\Phi(1.4)-\Phi(-0.6)}={0.9192-0.2743}={0.6449}.
  • That is, 64.49% of the pupils.
Exercise 1

The life of batteries is normally distributed, with mean 200 hours and standard deviation 15 hours.

a

Work out the standard score of 222.5 hours.

    / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

    / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

    b

    What percentage of the batteries work for more than 222.5 hours?

      / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

      / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

      c

      A factory bought 1,000 batteries. How many of them can be expected to work for more than 222.5 hours?

        / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

        / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

        Exercise 2

        The height of 17-year-old girls is normally distributed, with mean 164 cm and standard deviation 6 cm.
        What part of the girls are:

        a

        shorter than 170 cm?

          / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

          / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

          b

          taller than 158 cm and shorter than 176 cm?

            / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

            / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

            c

            taller than 155 cm?

              / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

              / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

              Exercise 3

              Pupils’ marks in a test are normally distributed, with mean 71 and standard deviation 15.
              387 pupils got a mark between 62 and 92.
              How many pupils sat the test?

                / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

                / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

                Exercise 4

                The marks in a final test are normally distributed, with mean 72 and standard deviation 16.
                Pnina got 64, and Ariel got 80.

                a

                What percentage of the pupils got a higher mark than Ariel?

                  / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

                  / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

                  b

                  Is the number of pupils who got a higher mark than Ariel equal to the number who got a lower mark than Pnina? Explain.