PREFACE

This book of statistical tables is prepared for students undertaking the mathematics
course of the Matriculation Programme, Ministry of Education Malaysia. It is
specifically written for students undertaking the mathematics course QS025 and
QA026 in the second semester and DM045 in the fourth semester.

Firstly, we wish to acknowledge with thanks the contributions of Prof. Madya Dr.
Yong Zulina bt Zubairi and Dr. Mohd. Khanafiah bin Ismail both from the University
of Malaya who coauthored the original version of this book in Bahasa Malaysia. This
edition has been translated into English in concordance with the implementation of
the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English. However, in this
edition we have also made some amendments for clarification purposes.

As with the original version, this book of statistical tables gives the probabilities for
three types of distribution, namely the binomial distribution in Table 1, the Poisson
distribution in Table 2 and the standard normal distribution in Table 3. Table 4 gives
the values of the percentage points of the standard normal distribution. In addition to
the statistical tables, we have included some examples of each of the distributions that
may help students when using the statistical tables. Comments on these and
suggestions for further improvement are most welcome.

Matriculation Division
Ministry of Education Malaysia
February 2012

i
 CONTENTS
Page

Preface i

Contents ii

The Binomial Distribution 1

Table of Binomial Probabilities 3

The Poisson Distribution 10

Table of Poisson Probabilities 12

The Standard Normal Distribution 19

Table of the Standard Normal Distribution 21

Percentage Points of the Standard Normal Distribution 22

Table of Percentage Points of the Normal Distribution 24

ii
 THE BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION

A discrete binomial distribution that is written as X ~ B(n, p) has two parameters, n

and p where n is the number of independent trials and p is the probability of success
in a single trial. The table gives the probability of obtaining r (for r  n) or more
successes in n independent trials. That is
n
n n n!
P( X  r ) =    p x (1 − p) n − x , where   = nC x = .
x=r  x   x x!( n − x )!

The first row indicates the value of p, the first column indicates the value of n and the
second column indicates the value of r. Note that there is no entry for some pairs of
values of n and p. This indicates that the probability value is less than 0.00005.

Example 1.1

Given that n = 20, p = 0.30. Find

(a) P(X  4), (c) P(X > 4) (e) P(X  15), (g) P(2 < X ≤ 5),
(b) P(X  4), (d) P(X = 4), (f) P(2  X  5), (h) P(2  X  5).

Solution

From the binomial table (p. 7),

(a) P(X  4) = 0.8929
(b) P(X  4) = 1 – P(X  4) = 1 – 0.8929 = 0.1071
(c) P(X > 4) = P(X  5) = 0.7625
(d) P(X = 4) = P(X  4) – P(X  5) = 0.8929 – 0.7625 = 0.1304
(e) P(X  15) = 0.0000
(f) P(2  X  5) = P(X  2) – P(X ≥ 5) = 0.9924 – 0.7625 = 0.2299
(g) P(2 < X ≤ 5) = P (X > 2) – P(X > 5)
= P(X  3) – P(X  6) = 0.9645 – 0.5836 = 0.3809
(h) P(2  X  5) = P(X  2) – P(X > 5)
= P(X  2) – P(X  6) = 0.9924 – 0.5836 = 0.4088

Note that Table 1 gives only the probability values for a limited range of parameter
values of n and p only. For example, the probability value for the pair n = 2 and p =
0.01 is not included in the binomial table as it can be computed easily by using the
binomial formula P( X = r ) = n C r p r ( 1 − p )n−r , r = 0, 1, 2, …, n.

Similarly for n  50 and for either p  0.1 or 0.1  p  0.9. For this type of pairs of n
and p, the Poisson distribution and normal distribution can be used as an
approximation of the binomial distribution. This can be carried out when the
following conditions are satisfied.
(i) use the Poisson approximation if the probability p  0.1, putting the
parameter  = np.

(ii) use the normal approximation if the probability 0.1  p  0.9 and np  5,
putting the parameter  = np and 2 = np(1 – np).

1
Example 1.2

Given that X ~ B(100, 0.01). Find P(X = 3) by using

(a) the binomial distribution.
(b) the Poisson approximation.

Solution

Given that X ~ B(100, 0.01) where n = 100, p = 0.01.

(a) Using the binomial formula,

100!
P(X = 3) = 100
C3(0.01)3(1– 0.01)97= (0.01)3 (0.99)97 = 0.0610. 1
3!(97)!

(b) As p = 0.01 < 0.1, the condition for the use of the Poisson distribution as an
approximation to the binomial distribution is satisfied with X ~ Po(λ) and λ =
e −113
np = 100(0.01) = 1.0. Hence, P(X = 3) = = 0.0613. 2
3!

Note that the answer in (a) is close to the answer in (b) up to 3 decimal places.

Example 1.3

Given that X~B(50,0.4) where n = 50, p = 0.40.

(a) Using the binomial distribution,

P(X ≥ 25) = 0.098 (from the binomial table, p. 9)

(b) As 0.1 < p = 0.4 < 0.9 and np = 50(0.4) = 20 > 5, this satisfies the condition
for the use of normal distribution as an approximation to the binomial
distribution. Hence,

P(X ≥ 25) = P(X > 24.5) (continuity correction)

 24.5 − 20 
= Z  
 12 

= P(Z > 1.3)

= 0.0968 (from the standard normal distribution table, p. 21)

Note that the answer in (a) is close to the answer in (b) up to two decimal
places.

1
Using a calculator to simplify the expression: You can evaluate (0.99)97 and 97! by using
the yx and n! keys, respectively.
2
The value of e is approximately 2.71828. If your calculator has the ex key, you can evaluate
–1
e by first entering 1, then press the +/– key, and finally pressing the ex key.

2
Table 1 Table of Binomial Probabilities

n p 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 p

r r
3 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0
1 0.0297 0.0588 0.0873 0.1153 0.1426 0.1694 0.1956 0.2213 0.2464 1
2 0.0003 0.0012 0.0026 0.0047 0.0073 0.0104 0.0140 0.0182 0.0228 2
3 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0003 0.0005 0.0007 3

4 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.0394 0.0776 0.1147 0.1507 0.1855 0.2193 0.2519 0.2836 0.3143 1
2 0.0006 0.0023 0.0052 0.0091 0.0140 0.0199 0.0267 0.0344 0.0430 2
3 0.0001 0.0002 0.0005 0.0008 0.0013 0.0019 0.0027 3
4 0.0001 4

5 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.0490 0.0961 0.1413 0.1846 0.2262 0.2661 0.3043 0.3409 0.3760 1
2 0.0010 0.0038 0.0085 0.0148 0.0226 0.0319 0.0425 0.0544 0.0674 2
3 0.0001 0.0003 0.0006 0.0012 0.0020 0.0031 0.0045 0.0063 3
4 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0003 4

6 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.0585 0.1142 0.1670 0.2172 0.2649 0.3101 0.3530 0.3936 0.4321 1
2 0.0015 0.0057 0.0125 0.0216 0.0328 0.0459 0.0608 0.0773 0.0952 2
3 0.0002 0.0005 0.0012 0.0022 0.0038 0.0058 0.0085 0.0118 3
4 0.0001 0.0002 0.0003 0.0005 0.0008 4

7 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.0679 0.1319 0.1920 0.2486 0.3017 0.3515 0.3983 0.4422 0.4832 1
2 0.0020 0.0079 0.0171 0.0294 0.0444 0.0618 0.0813 0.1026 0.1255 2
3 0.0003 0.0009 0.0020 0.0038 0.0063 0.0097 0.0140 0.0193 3
4 0.0001 0.0002 0.0004 0.0007 0.0012 0.0018 4

5 0.0001 0.0001 5

8 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.0773 0.1492 0.2163 0.2786 0.3366 0.3904 0.4404 0.4868 0.5297 1
2 0.0027 0.0103 0.0223 0.0381 0.0572 0.0792 0.1035 0.1298 0.1577 2
3 0.0001 0.0004 0.0013 0.0031 0.0058 0.0096 0.0147 0.0211 0.0289 3
4 0.0001 0.0002 0.0004 0.0007 0.0013 0.0022 0.0034 4

5 0.0001 0.0001 0.0003 5

9 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.0865 0.1663 0.2398 0.3075 0.3698 0.4270 0.4796 0.5278 0.5721 1
2 0.0034 0.0131 0.0282 0.0478 0.0712 0.0978 0.1271 0.1583 0.1912 2
3 0.0001 0.0006 0.0020 0.0045 0.0084 0.0138 0.0209 0.0298 0.0405 3
4 0.0001 0.0003 0.0006 0.0013 0.0023 0.0037 0.0057 4

5 0.0001 0.0002 0.0003 0.0005 5

10 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.0956 0.1829 0.2626 0.3352 0.4013 0.4614 0.5160 0.5656 0.6106 1
2 0.0043 0.0162 0.0345 0.0582 0.0861 0.1176 0.1517 0.1879 0.2254 2
3 0.0001 0.0009 0.0028 0.0062 0.0115 0.0188 0.0283 0.0401 0.0540 3
4 0.0001 0.0004 0.0010 0.0020 0.0036 0.0058 0.0088 4

3
Table 1 Table of Binomial Probabilities - continued

n p 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 p

r r
10 5 0.0001 0.0002 0.0003 0.0006 0.0010 5
6 0.0001 6

15 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.1399 0.2614 0.3667 0.4579 0.5367 0.6047 0.6633 0.7137 0.7570 1
2 0.0096 0.0353 0.0730 0.1191 0.1710 0.2262 0.2832 0.3403 0.3965 2
3 0.0004 0.0030 0.0094 0.0203 0.0362 0.0571 0.0829 0.1130 0.1469 3
4 0.0002 0.0008 0.0024 0.0055 0.0104 0.0175 0.0273 0.0399 4

5 0.0001 0.0002 0.0006 0.0014 0.0028 0.0050 0.0082 5

6 0.0001 0.0001 0.0003 0.0007 0.0013 6
7 0.0001 0.0002 7

20 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.1821 0.3324 0.4562 0.5580 0.6415 0.7099 0.7658 0.8113 0.8484 1
2 0.0169 0.0599 0.1198 0.1897 0.2642 0.3395 0.4131 0.4831 0.5484 2
3 0.0010 0.0071 0.0210 0.0439 0.0755 0.1150 0.1610 0.2121 0.2666 3
4 0.0006 0.0027 0.0074 0.0159 0.0290 0.0471 0.0706 0.0993 4

5 0.0003 0.0010 0.0026 0.0056 0.0107 0.0183 0.0290 5

6 0.0001 0.0003 0.0009 0.0019 0.0038 0.0068 6
7 0.0001 0.0003 0.0006 0.0013 7
8 0.0001 0.0002 8

30 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.2603 0.4545 0.5990 0.7061 0.7854 0.8437 0.8866 0.9180 0.9409 1
2 0.0361 0.1205 0.2269 0.3388 0.4465 0.5445 0.6306 0.7042 0.7657 2
3 0.0033 0.0217 0.0601 0.1169 0.1878 0.2676 0.3513 0.4346 0.5145 3
4 0.0002 0.0029 0.0119 0.0306 0.0608 0.1026 0.1550 0.2158 0.2825 4

5 0.0003 0.0018 0.0063 0.0156 0.0315 0.0553 0.0874 0.1277 5

6 0.0002 0.0011 0.0033 0.0079 0.0162 0.0293 0.0481 6
7 0.0001 0.0006 0.0017 0.0040 0.0082 0.0152 7
8 0.0001 0.0003 0.0008 0.0020 0.0041 8
9 0.0001 0.0004 0.0010 9

10 0.0001 0.0002 10

40 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.3310 0.5543 0.7043 0.8046 0.8715 0.9158 0.9451 0.9644 0.9770 1
2 0.0607 0.1905 0.3385 0.4790 0.6009 0.7010 0.7799 0.8406 0.8860 2
3 0.0075 0.0457 0.1178 0.2145 0.3233 0.4335 0.5375 0.6306 0.7106 3
4 0.0007 0.0082 0.0314 0.0748 0.1381 0.2173 0.3063 0.3993 0.4908 4

5 0.0012 0.0067 0.0210 0.0480 0.0896 0.1454 0.2132 0.2897 5

6 0.0001 0.0012 0.0049 0.0139 0.0309 0.0581 0.0967 0.1465 6
7 0.0002 0.0010 0.0034 0.0091 0.0199 0.0376 0.0639 7
8 0.0002 0.0007 0.0023 0.0058 0.0127 0.0242 8
9 0.0001 0.0005 0.0015 0.0037 0.0081 9

10 0.0001 0.0003 0.0010 0.0024 10

11 0.0001 0.0002 0.0006 11
12 0.0001 12

4
Table 1 Table of Binomial Probabilities - continued

n p 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 p

r r
50 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0
1 0.3950 0.6358 0.7819 0.8701 0.9231 0.9547 0.9734 0.9845 0.9910 1
2 0.0894 0.2642 0.4447 0.5995 0.7206 0.8100 0.8735 0.9173 0.9467 2
3 0.0138 0.0784 0.1892 0.3233 0.4595 0.5838 0.6892 0.7740 0.8394 3
4 0.0016 0.0178 0.0628 0.1391 0.2396 0.3527 0.4673 0.5747 0.6696 4

5 0.0001 0.0032 0.0168 0.0490 0.1036 0.1794 0.2710 0.3710 0.4723 5

6 0.0005 0.0037 0.0144 0.0378 0.0776 0.1350 0.2081 0.2928 6
7 0.0001 0.0007 0.0036 0.0118 0.0289 0.0583 0.1019 0.1596 7
8 0.0001 0.0008 0.0032 0.0094 0.0220 0.0438 0.0768 8
9 0.0001 0.0008 0.0027 0.0073 0.0166 0.0328 9

10 0.0002 0.0007 0.0022 0.0056 0.0125 10

11 0.0002 0.0006 0.0017 0.0043 11
12 0.0001 0.0005 0.0013 12
13 0.0001 0.0003 13
14 0.0001 14

n p 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 p

r r
3 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0
1 0.2710 0.3859 0.4880 0.5781 0.6570 0.7254 0.7840 0.8336 0.8750 1
2 0.0280 0.0608 0.1040 0.1562 0.2160 0.2818 0.3520 0.4253 0.5000 2
3 0.0010 0.0034 0.0080 0.0156 0.0270 0.0429 0.0640 0.0911 0.1250 3

4 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.3439 0.4780 0.5904 0.6836 0.7599 0.8215 0.8704 0.9085 0.9375 1
2 0.0523 0.1095 0.1808 0.2617 0.3483 0.4370 0.5248 0.6090 0.6875 2
3 0.0037 0.0120 0.0272 0.0508 0.0837 0.1265 0.1792 0.2415 0.3125 3
4 0.0001 0.0005 0.0016 0.0039 0.0081 0.0150 0.0256 0.0410 0.0625 4

5 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.4095 0.5563 0.6723 0.7627 0.8319 0.8840 0.9222 0.9497 0.9688 1
2 0.0815 0.1648 0.2627 0.3672 0.4718 0.5716 0.6630 0.7438 0.8125 2
3 0.0086 0.0266 0.0579 0.1035 0.1631 0.2352 0.3174 0.4069 0.5000 3
4 0.0005 0.0022 0.0067 0.0156 0.0308 0.0540 0.0870 0.1312 0.1875 4

5 0.0001 0.0003 0.0010 0.0024 0.0053 0.0102 0.0185 0.0313 5

6 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.4686 0.6229 0.7379 0.8220 0.8824 0.9246 0.9533 0.9723 0.9844 1
2 0.1143 0.2235 0.3446 0.4661 0.5798 0.6809 0.7667 0.8364 0.8906 2
3 0.0159 0.0473 0.0989 0.1694 0.2557 0.3529 0.4557 0.5585 0.6563 3
4 0.0013 0.0059 0.0170 0.0376 0.0705 0.1174 0.1792 0.2553 0.3438 4

5 0.0001 0.0004 0.0016 0.0046 0.0109 0.0223 0.0410 0.0692 0.1094 5

6 0.0001 0.0002 0.0007 0.0018 0.0041 0.0083 0.0156 6

7 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.5217 0.6794 0.7903 0.8665 0.9176 0.9510 0.9720 0.9848 0.9922 1
2 0.1497 0.2834 0.4233 0.5551 0.6706 0.7662 0.8414 0.8976 0.9375 2
3 0.0257 0.0738 0.1480 0.2436 0.3529 0.4677 0.5801 0.6836 0.7734 3
4 0.0027 0.0121 0.0333 0.0706 0.1260 0.1998 0.2898 0.3917 0.5000 4

5
Table 1 Table of Binomial Probabilities - continued

n p 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 p

r r
7 5 0.0002 0.0012 0.0047 0.0129 0.0288 0.0556 0.0963 0.1529 0.2266
6 0.0001 0.0004 0.0013 0.0038 0.0090 0.0188 0.0357 0.0625
7 0.0001 0.0002 0.0006 0.0016 0.0037 0.0078

8 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.5695 0.7275 0.8322 0.8999 0.9424 0.9681 0.9832 0.9916 0.9961 1
2 0.1869 0.3428 0.4967 0.6329 0.7447 0.8309 0.8936 0.9368 0.9648 2
3 0.0381 0.1052 0.2031 0.3215 0.4482 0.5722 0.6846 0.7799 0.8555 3
4 0.0050 0.0214 0.0563 0.1138 0.1941 0.2936 0.4059 0.5230 0.6367 4

5 0.0004 0.0029 0.0104 0.0273 0.0580 0.1061 0.1737 0.2604 0.3633 5

6 0.0002 0.0012 0.0042 0.0113 0.0253 0.0498 0.0885 0.1445 6
7 0.0001 0.0004 0.0013 0.0036 0.0085 0.0181 0.0352 7
8 0.0001 0.0002 0.0007 0.0017 0.0039 8

9 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.6126 0.7684 0.8658 0.9249 0.9596 0.9793 0.9899 0.9954 0.9980 1
2 0.2252 0.4005 0.5638 0.6997 0.8040 0.8789 0.9295 0.9615 0.9805 2
3 0.0530 0.1409 0.2618 0.3993 0.5372 0.6627 0.7682 0.8505 0.9102 3
4 0.0083 0.0339 0.0856 0.1657 0.2703 0.3911 0.5174 0.6386 0.7461 4

5 0.0009 0.0056 0.0196 0.0489 0.0988 0.1717 0.2666 0.3786 0.5000 5

6 0.0001 0.0006 0.0031 0.0100 0.0253 0.0536 0.0994 0.1658 0.2539 6
7 0.0003 0.0013 0.0043 0.0112 0.0250 0.0498 0.0898 7
8 0.0001 0.0004 0.0014 0.0038 0.0091 0.0195 8
9 0.0001 0.0003 0.0008 0.0020 9

10 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.6513 0.8031 0.8926 0.9437 0.9718 0.9865 0.9940 0.9975 0.9990 1
2 0.2639 0.4557 0.6242 0.7560 0.8507 0.9140 0.9536 0.9767 0.9893 2
3 0.0702 0.1798 0.3222 0.4744 0.6172 0.7384 0.8327 0.9004 0.9453 3
4 0.0128 0.0500 0.1209 0.2241 0.3504 0.4862 0.6177 0.7340 0.8281 4

5 0.0016 0.0099 0.0328 0.0781 0.1503 0.2485 0.3669 0.4956 0.6230 5

6 0.0001 0.0014 0.0064 0.0197 0.0473 0.0949 0.1662 0.2616 0.3770 6
7 0.0001 0.0009 0.0035 0.0106 0.0260 0.0548 0.1020 0.1719 7
8 0.0001 0.0004 0.0016 0.0048 0.0123 0.0274 0.0547 8
9 0.0001 0.0005 0.0017 0.0045 0.0107 9

10 0.0001 0.0003 0.0010 10

15 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.7941 0.9126 0.9648 0.9866 0.9953 0.9984 0.9995 0.9999 1.0000 1
2 0.4510 0.6814 0.8329 0.9198 0.9647 0.9858 0.9948 0.9983 0.9995 2
3 0.1841 0.3958 0.6020 0.7639 0.8732 0.9383 0.9729 0.9893 0.9963 3
4 0.0556 0.1773 0.3518 0.5387 0.7031 0.8273 0.9095 0.9576 0.9824 4

5 0.0127 0.0617 0.1642 0.3135 0.4845 0.6481 0.7827 0.8796 0.9408 5

6 0.0022 0.0168 0.0611 0.1484 0.2784 0.4357 0.5968 0.7392 0.8491 6
7 0.0003 0.0036 0.0181 0.0566 0.1311 0.2452 0.3902 0.5478 0.6964 7
8 0.0006 0.0042 0.0173 0.0500 0.1132 0.2131 0.3465 0.5000 8
9 0.0001 0.0008 0.0042 0.0152 0.0422 0.0950 0.1818 0.3036 9

6
Table 1 Table of Binomial Probabilities - continued

n p 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 p

r r
15 10 0.0001 0.0008 0.0037 0.0124 0.0338 0.0769 0.1509 10
11 0.0001 0.0007 0.0028 0.0093 0.0255 0.0592 11
12 0.0001 0.0005 0.0019 0.0063 0.0176 12
13 0.0001 0.0003 0.0011 0.0037 13
14 0.0001 0.0005 14

20 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.8784 0.9612 0.9885 0.9968 0.9992 0.9998 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1
2 0.6083 0.8244 0.9308 0.9757 0.9924 0.9979 0.9995 0.9999 1.0000 2
3 0.3231 0.5951 0.7939 0.9087 0.9645 0.9879 0.9964 0.9991 0.9998 3
4 0.1330 0.3523 0.5886 0.7748 0.8929 0.9556 0.9840 0.9951 0.9987 4

5 0.0432 0.1702 0.3704 0.5852 0.7625 0.8818 0.9490 0.9811 0.9941 5

6 0.0113 0.0673 0.1958 0.3828 0.5836 0.7546 0.8744 0.9447 0.9793 6
7 0.0024 0.0219 0.0867 0.2142 0.3920 0.5834 0.7500 0.8701 0.9423 7
8 0.0004 0.0059 0.0321 0.1018 0.2277 0.3990 0.5841 0.7480 0.8684 8
9 0.0001 0.0013 0.0100 0.0409 0.1133 0.2376 0.4044 0.5857 0.7483 9

10 0.0002 0.0026 0.0139 0.0480 0.1218 0.2447 0.4086 0.5881 10

11 0.0006 0.0039 0.0171 0.0532 0.1275 0.2493 0.4119 11
12 0.0001 0.0009 0.0051 0.0196 0.0565 0.1308 0.2517 12
13 0.0002 0.0013 0.0060 0.0210 0.0580 0.1316 13
14 0.0003 0.0015 0.0065 0.0214 0.0577 14

15 0.0003 0.0016 0.0064 0.0207 15

16 0.0003 0.0015 0.0059 16
17 0.0003 0.0013 17
18 0.0002 18

30 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.9576 0.9924 0.9988 0.9998 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1
2 0.8163 0.9520 0.9895 0.9980 0.9997 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 2
3 0.5886 0.8486 0.9558 0.9894 0.9979 0.9997 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 3
4 0.3526 0.6783 0.8773 0.9626 0.9907 0.9981 0.9997 1.0000 1.0000 4

5 0.1755 0.4755 0.7448 0.9021 0.9698 0.9925 0.9985 0.9998 1.0000 5

6 0.0732 0.2894 0.5725 0.7974 0.9234 0.9767 0.9943 0.9989 0.9998 6
7 0.0258 0.1526 0.3930 0.6519 0.8405 0.9414 0.9828 0.9960 0.9993 7
8 0.0078 0.0698 0.2392 0.4857 0.7186 0.8762 0.9565 0.9879 0.9974 8
9 0.0020 0.0278 0.1287 0.3264 0.5685 0.7753 0.9060 0.9688 0.9919 9

10 0.0005 0.0097 0.0611 0.1966 0.4112 0.6425 0.8237 0.9306 0.9786 10

11 0.0001 0.0029 0.0256 0.1057 0.2696 0.4922 0.7085 0.8650 0.9506 11
12 0.0008 0.0095 0.0507 0.1593 0.3452 0.5689 0.7673 0.8998 12
13 0.0002 0.0031 0.0216 0.0845 0.2198 0.4215 0.6408 0.8192 13
14 0.0009 0.0082 0.0401 0.1263 0.2855 0.4975 0.7077 14

15 0.0002 0.0027 0.0169 0.0652 0.1754 0.3552 0.5722 15

16 0.0001 0.0008 0.0064 0.0301 0.0971 0.2309 0.4278 16
17 0.0002 0.0021 0.0124 0.0481 0.1356 0.2923 17
18 0.0001 0.0006 0.0045 0.0212 0.0714 0.1808 18
19 0.0002 0.0014 0.0083 0.0334 0.1002 19

7
Table 1 Table of Binomial Probabilities - continued

n p 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 p

r r
30 20 0.0004 0.0029 0.0138 0.0494 20
21 0.0001 0.0009 0.0050 0.0214 21
22 0.0002 0.0016 0.0081 22
23 0.0004 0.0026 23
24 0.0001 0.0007 24

25 0.0002 25

40 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.9852 0.9985 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1
2 0.9195 0.9879 0.9985 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 2
3 0.7772 0.9514 0.9921 0.9990 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 3
4 0.5769 0.8698 0.9715 0.9953 0.9994 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 4

5 0.3710 0.7367 0.9241 0.9840 0.9974 0.9997 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 5

6 0.2063 0.5675 0.8387 0.9567 0.9914 0.9987 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 6
7 0.0995 0.3933 0.7141 0.9038 0.9762 0.9956 0.9994 0.9999 1.0000 7
8 0.0419 0.2441 0.5629 0.8180 0.9447 0.9876 0.9979 0.9998 1.0000 8
9 0.0155 0.1354 0.4069 0.7002 0.8890 0.9697 0.9939 0.9991 0.9999 9

10 0.0051 0.0672 0.2682 0.5605 0.8041 0.9356 0.9844 0.9973 0.9997 10

11 0.0015 0.0299 0.1608 0.4161 0.6913 0.8785 0.9648 0.9926 0.9989 11
12 0.0004 0.0120 0.0875 0.2849 0.5594 0.7947 0.9291 0.9821 0.9968 12
13 0.0001 0.0043 0.0432 0.1791 0.4228 0.6857 0.8715 0.9614 0.9917 13
14 0.0014 0.0194 0.1032 0.2968 0.5592 0.7888 0.9249 0.9808 14

15 0.0004 0.0079 0.0544 0.1926 0.4279 0.6826 0.8674 0.9597 15

16 0.0001 0.0029 0.0262 0.1151 0.3054 0.5598 0.7858 0.9231 16
17 0.0010 0.0116 0.0633 0.2022 0.4319 0.6815 0.8659 17
18 0.0003 0.0047 0.0320 0.1239 0.3115 0.5609 0.7852 18
19 0.0001 0.0017 0.0148 0.0699 0.2089 0.4349 0.6821 19

20 0.0006 0.0063 0.0363 0.1298 0.3156 0.5627 20

21 0.0002 0.0024 0.0173 0.0744 0.2130 0.4373 21
22 0.0009 0.0075 0.0392 0.1331 0.3179 22
23 0.0003 0.0030 0.0189 0.0767 0.2148 23
24 0.0001 0.0011 0.0083 0.0405 0.1341 24

25 0.0004 0.0034 0.0196 0.0769 25

26 0.0001 0.0012 0.0086 0.0403 26
27 0.0004 0.0034 0.0192 27
28 0.0001 0.0012 0.0083 28
29 0.0004 0.0032 29

30 0.0001 0.0011 30
31 0.0003 31
32 0.0001 32

50 0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0

1 0.9948 0.9997 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1
2 0.9662 0.9971 0.9998 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 2
3 0.8883 0.9858 0.9987 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 3

8
Table 1 Table of Binomial Probabilities - continued

n p 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 p

r r
50 4 0.7497 0.9540 0.9943 0.9995 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 4

5 0.5688 0.8879 0.9815 0.9979 0.9998 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 5

6 0.3839 0.7806 0.9520 0.9930 0.9993 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 6
7 0.2298 0.6387 0.8966 0.9806 0.9975 0.9998 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 7
8 0.1221 0.4812 0.8096 0.9547 0.9927 0.9992 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 8
9 0.0579 0.3319 0.6927 0.9084 0.9817 0.9975 0.9998 1.0000 1.0000 9

10 0.0245 0.2089 0.5563 0.8363 0.9598 0.9933 0.9992 0.9999 1.0000 10

11 0.0094 0.1199 0.4164 0.7378 0.9211 0.9840 0.9978 0.9998 1.0000 11
12 0.0032 0.0628 0.2893 0.6184 0.8610 0.9658 0.9943 0.9994 1.0000 12
13 0.0010 0.0301 0.1861 0.4890 0.7771 0.9339 0.9867 0.9982 0.9998 13
14 0.0003 0.0132 0.1106 0.3630 0.6721 0.8837 0.9720 0.9955 0.9995 14

15 0.0001 0.0053 0.0607 0.2519 0.5532 0.8122 0.9460 0.9896 0.9987 15

16 0.0019 0.0308 0.1631 0.4308 0.7199 0.9045 0.9780 0.9967 16
17 0.0007 0.0144 0.0983 0.3161 0.6111 0.8439 0.9573 0.9923 17
18 0.0002 0.0063 0.0551 0.2178 0.4940 0.7631 0.9235 0.9836 18
19 0.0001 0.0025 0.0287 0.1406 0.3784 0.6644 0.8727 0.9675 19

20 0.0009 0.0139 0.0848 0.2736 0.5535 0.8026 0.9405 20

21 0.0003 0.0063 0.0478 0.1861 0.4390 0.7138 0.8987 21
22 0.0001 0.0026 0.0251 0.1187 0.3299 0.6100 0.8389 22
23 0.0010 0.0123 0.0710 0.2340 0.4981 0.7601 23
24 0.0004 0.0056 0.0396 0.1562 0.3866 0.6641 24

25 0.0001 0.0024 0.0207 0.0978 0.2840 0.5561 25

26 0.0009 0.0100 0.0573 0.1966 0.4439 26
27 0.0003 0.0045 0.0314 0.1279 0.3359 27
28 0.0001 0.0019 0.0160 0.0780 0.2399 28
29 0.0007 0.0076 0.0444 0.1611 29

30 0.0003 0.0034 0.0235 0.1013 30

31 0.0001 0.0014 0.0116 0.0595 31
32 0.0005 0.0053 0.0325 32
33 0.0002 0.0022 0.0164 33
34 0.0001 0.0009 0.0077 34

35 0.0003 0.0033 35
36 0.0001 0.0013 36
37 0.0005 37
38 0.0002 38

9
 THE POISSON DISTRIBUTION
A discrete Poisson distribution that is written as X ~ Po(λ) has only one parameter, λ
where λ is the mean number of random events in an interval. The table gives the
probability of obtaining r or more events that occurred in an interval, that is

x
P(X ≥ r) =  e −
x!
.
x =r
The first row indicates the value of λ and the first column indicates the value of r.
Note that some pairs of λ and r do not have any values and this indicates that the
probability value is less than 0.00005.

Example 2.1

Given that X ~ Po(λ). Find P(X ≥ 5) for

(a) λ = 1.0 (b) λ = 3.3 (c) λ = 10.0 (d) λ = 25.0

Solution

(a) Given that X ~ Po(1.0). From the Poisson table (p. 12),
P(X ≥ 5) = 0.0037

(b) Given that X ~ Po(3.3). From the Poisson table (p. 12),
P(X ≥ 5) = 0.2374

(c) Given that X ~ Po(10.0). From the Poisson table (p. 15),
P(X ≥ 5) = 0.9707

(d) Given that X ~ Po(25.0). From the Poisson table (p. 17),
P(X ≥ 5) = 1.0000

Example 2.2

Given that λ = 4.5. Find

(a) P(X ≥ 4) (b) P(X < 4) (c) P(X = 4) (d) P(X ≥ 15) (e) P( 2 ≤ X < 5)

Solution

(a) P(X ≥ 4) = 0.6577

(b) P(X < 4) = 1 – P(X ≥ 4) = 1 – 0.6577 = 0.3423
(c) P(X = 4) = P(X ≥ 4) – P(X ≥ 5) = 0.6577 – 0.4679
(d) P(X ≥ 15) = 0.0001
(e) P(2 ≤ λ X < 5) = P(X ≥ 2) – P(X ≥ 5) = 0.9389 – 0.4679 = 0.4710

Table 2 shows the probability values for the parameter values of λ up to λ = 30 only.
For λ > 30, the Poisson distribution can be approximated to the normal distribution
putting the parameter μ = λ and σ2 = λ.

10
Example 2.3

Given that X ~ Po(40). Find P(39 ≤ X < 41) by using

(a) the Poisson distribution.
(b) the normal approximation.

Solution

Given that X ~ Po(40) where λ = 40.

(a) Using the Poisson formula,
 4039 40 40 40 41 
P(39 ≤ X ≤ 41) = e −40  + +  = 0.1873
 39! 40 ! 41! 
 

(b) As λ = 40 > 30, this satisfies the condition for the use of the normal
distribution as an approximation to the Poisson distribution where X ~ N(λ, λ)
= X ~ N(40, 40). Therefore
P(39 ≤ λ X ≤ 41) = P(38.5 ≤ X ≤ 41.5) (continuity correction)
 38.5 − 40 41.5 − 40 
= P  X  
 40 40 
= P(0.237 < Z < 0.237)
= 1 – 2P(Z > 0.24)
= 1 – 2(0.4052)
= 0.1896

Note that the answer in (a) is close to the answer in (b) up to 2 decimal places.

11
Table 2 Table of Poisson Probabilities

 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 
r r
0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0
1 0.0952 0.1813 0.2592 0.3297 0.3935 0.4512 0.5034 0.5507 0.5934 0.6321 1
2 0.0047 0.0175 0.0369 0.0616 0.0902 0.1219 0.1558 0.1912 0.2275 0.2642 2
3 0.0002 0.0011 0.0036 0.0079 0.0144 0.0231 0.0341 0.0474 0.0629 0.0803 3
4 0.0001 0.0003 0.0008 0.0018 0.0034 0.0058 0.0091 0.0135 0.0190 4

5 0.0001 0.0002 0.0004 0.0008 0.0014 0.0023 0.0037 5

6 0.0001 0.0002 0.0003 0.0006 6
7 0.0001 7

 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0 
r r
0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0
1 0.6671 0.6988 0.7275 0.7534 0.7769 0.7981 0.8173 0.8347 0.8504 0.8647 1
2 0.3010 0.3374 0.3732 0.4082 0.4422 0.4751 0.5068 0.5372 0.5663 0.5940 2
3 0.0996 0.1205 0.1429 0.1665 0.1912 0.2166 0.2428 0.2694 0.2963 0.3233 3
4 0.0257 0.0338 0.0431 0.0537 0.0656 0.0788 0.0932 0.1087 0.1253 0.1429 4

5 0.0054 0.0077 0.0107 0.0143 0.0186 0.0237 0.0296 0.0364 0.0441 0.0527 5
6 0.0010 0.0015 0.0022 0.0032 0.0045 0.0060 0.0080 0.0104 0.0132 0.0166 6
7 0.0001 0.0003 0.0004 0.0006 0.0009 0.0013 0.0019 0.0026 0.0034 0.0045 7
8 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0003 0.0004 0.0006 0.0008 0.0011 8
9 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0002 9

 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 3.0 
r r
0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0
1 0.8775 0.8892 0.8997 0.9093 0.9179 0.9257 0.9328 0.9392 0.9450 0.9502 1
2 0.6204 0.6454 0.6691 0.6916 0.7127 0.7326 0.7513 0.7689 0.7854 0.8009 2
3 0.3504 0.3773 0.4040 0.4303 0.4562 0.4816 0.5064 0.5305 0.5540 0.5768 3
4 0.1614 0.1806 0.2007 0.2213 0.2424 0.2640 0.2859 0.3081 0.3304 0.3528 4

5 0.0621 0.0725 0.0838 0.0959 0.1088 0.1226 0.1371 0.1523 0.1682 0.1847 5
6 0.0204 0.0249 0.0300 0.0357 0.0420 0.0490 0.0567 0.0651 0.0742 0.0839 6
7 0.0059 0.0075 0.0094 0.0116 0.0142 0.0172 0.0206 0.0244 0.0287 0.0335 7
8 0.0015 0.0020 0.0026 0.0033 0.0042 0.0053 0.0066 0.0081 0.0099 0.0119 8
9 0.0003 0.0005 0.0006 0.0009 0.0011 0.0015 0.0019 0.0024 0.0031 0.0038 9

10 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0003 0.0004 0.0005 0.0007 0.0009 0.0011 10
11 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0002 0.0003 11
12 0.0001 0.0001 12

 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 4.0 
r r
0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0
1 0.9550 0.9592 0.9631 0.9666 0.9698 0.9727 0.9753 0.9776 0.9798 0.9817 1
2 0.8153 0.8288 0.8414 0.8532 0.8641 0.8743 0.8838 0.8926 0.9008 0.9084 2
3 0.5988 0.6201 0.6406 0.6603 0.6792 0.6973 0.7146 0.7311 0.7469 0.7619 3
4 0.3752 0.3975 0.4197 0.4416 0.4634 0.4848 0.5058 0.5265 0.5468 0.5665 4

5 0.2018 0.2194 0.2374 0.2558 0.2746 0.2936 0.3128 0.3322 0.3516 0.3712 5
6 0.0943 0.1054 0.1171 0.1295 0.1424 0.1559 0.1699 0.1844 0.1994 0.2149 6

12
Table 2 Table of Poisson Probabilities - continued

 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 4.0 
r r
7 0.0388 0.0446 0.0510 0.0579 0.0653 0.0733 0.0818 0.0909 0.1005 0.1107 7
8 0.0142 0.0168 0.0198 0.0231 0.0267 0.0308 0.0352 0.0401 0.0454 0.0511 8
9 0.0047 0.0057 0.0069 0.0083 0.0099 0.0117 0.0137 0.0160 0.0185 0.0214 9

10 0.0014 0.0018 0.0022 0.0027 0.0033 0.0040 0.0048 0.0058 0.0069 0.0081 10
11 0.0004 0.0005 0.0006 0.0008 0.0010 0.0013 0.0016 0.0019 0.0023 0.0028 11
12 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0002 0.0003 0.0004 0.0005 0.0006 0.0007 0.0009 12
13 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0002 0.0003 13
14 0.0001 0.0001 14

 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 5.0 
r r
0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0
1 0.9834 0.9850 0.9864 0.9877 0.9889 0.9899 0.9909 0.9918 0.9926 0.9933 1
2 0.9155 0.9220 0.9281 0.9337 0.9389 0.9437 0.9482 0.9523 0.9561 0.9596 2
3 0.7762 0.7898 0.8026 0.8149 0.8264 0.8374 0.8477 0.8575 0.8667 0.8753 3
4 0.5858 0.6046 0.6228 0.6406 0.6577 0.6743 0.6903 0.7058 0.7207 0.7350 4

5 0.3907 0.4102 0.4296 0.4488 0.4679 0.4868 0.5054 0.5237 0.5418 0.5595 5
6 0.2307 0.2469 0.2633 0.2801 0.2971 0.3142 0.3316 0.3490 0.3665 0.3840 6
7 0.1214 0.1325 0.1442 0.1564 0.1689 0.1820 0.1954 0.2092 0.2233 0.2378 7
8 0.0573 0.0639 0.0710 0.0786 0.0866 0.0951 0.1040 0.1133 0.1231 0.1334 8
9 0.0245 0.0279 0.0317 0.0358 0.0403 0.0451 0.0503 0.0558 0.0618 0.0681 9

10 0.0095 0.0111 0.0129 0.0149 0.0171 0.0195 0.0222 0.0251 0.0283 0.0318 10
11 0.0034 0.0041 0.0048 0.0057 0.0067 0.0078 0.0090 0.0104 0.0120 0.0137 11
12 0.0011 0.0014 0.0017 0.0020 0.0024 0.0029 0.0034 0.0040 0.0047 0.0055 12
13 0.0003 0.0004 0.0005 0.0007 0.0008 0.0010 0.0012 0.0014 0.0017 0.0020 13
14 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0002 0.0003 0.0003 0.0004 0.0005 0.0006 0.0007 14

15 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0002 15

16 0.0001 0.0001 16

 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 6.0 
r r
0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0
1 0.9939 0.9945 0.9950 0.9955 0.9959 0.9963 0.9967 0.9970 0.9973 0.9975 1
2 0.9628 0.9658 0.9686 0.9711 0.9734 0.9756 0.9776 0.9794 0.9811 0.9826 2
3 0.8835 0.8912 0.8984 0.9052 0.9116 0.9176 0.9232 0.9285 0.9334 0.9380 3
4 0.7487 0.7619 0.7746 0.7867 0.7983 0.8094 0.8200 0.8300 0.8396 0.8488 4

5 0.5769 0.5939 0.6105 0.6267 0.6425 0.6578 0.6728 0.6873 0.7013 0.7149 5
6 0.4016 0.4191 0.4365 0.4539 0.4711 0.4881 0.5050 0.5217 0.5381 0.5543 6
7 0.2526 0.2676 0.2829 0.2983 0.3140 0.3297 0.3456 0.3616 0.3776 0.3937 7
8 0.1440 0.1551 0.1665 0.1783 0.1905 0.2030 0.2159 0.2290 0.2424 0.2560 8
9 0.0748 0.0819 0.0894 0.0973 0.1056 0.1143 0.1234 0.1328 0.1426 0.1528 9

10 0.0356 0.0397 0.0441 0.0488 0.0538 0.0591 0.0648 0.0708 0.0772 0.0839 10
11 0.0156 0.0177 0.0200 0.0225 0.0253 0.0282 0.0314 0.0349 0.0386 0.0426 11
12 0.0063 0.0073 0.0084 0.0096 0.0110 0.0125 0.0141 0.0159 0.0179 0.0201 12
13 0.0024 0.0028 0.0033 0.0038 0.0045 0.0051 0.0059 0.0068 0.0078 0.0088 13
14 0.0008 0.0010 0.0012 0.0014 0.0017 0.0020 0.0023 0.0027 0.0031 0.0036 14

13
Table 2 Table of Poisson Probabilities - continued

 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 6.0 
r r
15 0.0003 0.0003 0.0004 0.0005 0.0006 0.0007 0.0009 0.0010 0.0012 0.0014 15
16 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0003 0.0004 0.0004 0.0005 16
17 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 17
18 0.0001 18

 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 7.0 
r r
0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0
1 0.9978 0.9980 0.9982 0.9983 0.9985 0.9986 0.9988 0.9989 0.9990 0.9991 1
2 0.9841 0.9854 0.9866 0.9877 0.9887 0.9897 0.9905 0.9913 0.9920 0.9927 2
3 0.9423 0.9464 0.9502 0.9537 0.9570 0.9600 0.9629 0.9656 0.9680 0.9704 3
4 0.8575 0.8658 0.8736 0.8811 0.8882 0.8948 0.9012 0.9072 0.9129 0.9182 4

5 0.7281 0.7408 0.7531 0.7649 0.7763 0.7873 0.7978 0.8080 0.8177 0.8270 5
6 0.5702 0.5859 0.6012 0.6163 0.6310 0.6453 0.6594 0.6730 0.6863 0.6993 6
7 0.4098 0.4258 0.4418 0.4577 0.4735 0.4892 0.5047 0.5201 0.5353 0.5503 7
8 0.2699 0.2840 0.2983 0.3127 0.3272 0.3419 0.3567 0.3715 0.3864 0.4013 8
9 0.1633 0.1741 0.1852 0.1967 0.2084 0.2204 0.2327 0.2452 0.2580 0.2709 9

10 0.0910 0.0984 0.1061 0.1142 0.1226 0.1314 0.1404 0.1498 0.1595 0.1695 10
11 0.0469 0.0514 0.0563 0.0614 0.0668 0.0726 0.0786 0.0849 0.0916 0.0985 11
12 0.0224 0.0250 0.0277 0.0307 0.0339 0.0373 0.0409 0.0448 0.0490 0.0533 12
13 0.0100 0.0113 0.0127 0.0143 0.0160 0.0179 0.0199 0.0221 0.0245 0.0270 13
14 0.0042 0.0048 0.0055 0.0063 0.0071 0.0080 0.0091 0.0102 0.0115 0.0128 14

15 0.0016 0.0019 0.0022 0.0026 0.0030 0.0034 0.0039 0.0044 0.0050 0.0057 15
16 0.0006 0.0007 0.0008 0.0010 0.0012 0.0014 0.0016 0.0018 0.0021 0.0024 16
17 0.0002 0.0003 0.0003 0.0004 0.0004 0.0005 0.0006 0.0007 0.0008 0.0010 17
18 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0003 0.0003 0.0004 18
19 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 19

 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 8.0 
r r
0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0
1 0.9992 0.9993 0.9993 0.9994 0.9994 0.9995 0.9995 0.9996 0.9996 0.9997 1
2 0.9933 0.9939 0.9944 0.9949 0.9953 0.9957 0.9961 0.9964 0.9967 0.9970 2
3 0.9725 0.9745 0.9764 0.9781 0.9797 0.9812 0.9826 0.9839 0.9851 0.9862 3
4 0.9233 0.9281 0.9326 0.9368 0.9409 0.9446 0.9482 0.9515 0.9547 0.9576 4

5 0.8359 0.8445 0.8527 0.8605 0.8679 0.8751 0.8819 0.8883 0.8945 0.9004 5
6 0.7119 0.7241 0.7360 0.7474 0.7586 0.7693 0.7797 0.7897 0.7994 0.8088 6
7 0.5651 0.5796 0.5940 0.6080 0.6218 0.6354 0.6486 0.6616 0.6743 0.6866 7
8 0.4162 0.4311 0.4459 0.4607 0.4754 0.4900 0.5044 0.5188 0.5330 0.5470 8
9 0.2840 0.2973 0.3108 0.3243 0.3380 0.3518 0.3657 0.3796 0.3935 0.4075 9

10 0.1798 0.1904 0.2012 0.2123 0.2236 0.2351 0.2469 0.2589 0.2710 0.2834 10
11 0.1058 0.1133 0.1212 0.1293 0.1378 0.1465 0.1555 0.1648 0.1743 0.1841 11
12 0.0580 0.0629 0.0681 0.0735 0.0792 0.0852 0.0915 0.0980 0.1048 0.1119 12
13 0.0297 0.0327 0.0358 0.0391 0.0427 0.0464 0.0504 0.0546 0.0591 0.0638 13
14 0.0143 0.0159 0.0176 0.0195 0.0216 0.0238 0.0261 0.0286 0.0313 0.0342 14

15 0.0065 0.0073 0.0082 0.0092 0.0103 0.0114 0.0127 0.0141 0.0156 0.0173 15

14
Table 2 Table of Poisson Probabilities - continued

 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 8.0 
r r
16 0.0028 0.0031 0.0036 0.0041 0.0046 0.0052 0.0059 0.0066 0.0074 0.0082 16
17 0.0011 0.0013 0.0015 0.0017 0.0020 0.0022 0.0026 0.0029 0.0033 0.0037 17
18 0.0004 0.0005 0.0006 0.0007 0.0008 0.0009 0.0011 0.0012 0.0014 0.0016 18
19 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0003 0.0003 0.0004 0.0004 0.0005 0.0006 0.0007 19

20 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0003 20
21 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 21

 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 9.0 
r r
0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0
1 0.9997 0.9997 0.9998 0.9998 0.9998 0.9998 0.9998 0.9998 0.9999 0.9999 1
2 0.9972 0.9975 0.9977 0.9979 0.9981 0.9982 0.9984 0.9985 0.9986 0.9988 2
3 0.9873 0.9882 0.9891 0.9900 0.9907 0.9914 0.9921 0.9927 0.9932 0.9938 3
4 0.9604 0.9630 0.9654 0.9677 0.9699 0.9719 0.9738 0.9756 0.9772 0.9788 4

5 0.9060 0.9113 0.9163 0.9211 0.9256 0.9299 0.9340 0.9379 0.9416 0.9450 5
6 0.8178 0.8264 0.8347 0.8427 0.8504 0.8578 0.8648 0.8716 0.8781 0.8843 6
7 0.6987 0.7104 0.7219 0.7330 0.7438 0.7543 0.7645 0.7744 0.7840 0.7932 7
8 0.5609 0.5746 0.5881 0.6013 0.6144 0.6272 0.6398 0.6522 0.6643 0.6761 8
9 0.4214 0.4353 0.4493 0.4631 0.4769 0.4906 0.5042 0.5177 0.5311 0.5443 9

10 0.2959 0.3085 0.3212 0.3341 0.3470 0.3600 0.3731 0.3863 0.3994 0.4126 10
11 0.1942 0.2045 0.2150 0.2257 0.2366 0.2478 0.2591 0.2706 0.2822 0.2940 11
12 0.1193 0.1269 0.1348 0.1429 0.1513 0.1600 0.1689 0.1780 0.1874 0.1970 12
13 0.0687 0.0739 0.0793 0.0850 0.0909 0.0971 0.1035 0.1102 0.1171 0.1242 13
14 0.0372 0.0405 0.0439 0.0476 0.0514 0.0555 0.0597 0.0642 0.0689 0.0739 14

15 0.0190 0.0209 0.0229 0.0251 0.0274 0.0299 0.0325 0.0353 0.0383 0.0415 15
16 0.0092 0.0102 0.0113 0.0125 0.0138 0.0152 0.0168 0.0184 0.0202 0.0220 16
17 0.0042 0.0047 0.0053 0.0059 0.0066 0.0074 0.0082 0.0091 0.0101 0.0111 17
18 0.0018 0.0021 0.0023 0.0027 0.0030 0.0034 0.0038 0.0043 0.0048 0.0053 18
19 0.0008 0.0009 0.0010 0.0011 0.0013 0.0015 0.0017 0.0019 0.0022 0.0024 19

20 0.0003 0.0003 0.0004 0.0005 0.0005 0.0006 0.0007 0.0008 0.0009 0.0011 20
21 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0003 0.0003 0.0004 0.0004 21
22 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0002 22
23 0.0001 0.0001 23

 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 9.9 10.0 
r r
0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0
1 0.9999 0.9999 0.9999 0.9999 0.9999 0.9999 0.9999 0.9999 0.9999 1.0000 1
2 0.9989 0.9990 0.9991 0.9991 0.9992 0.9993 0.9993 0.9994 0.9995 0.9995 2
3 0.9942 0.9947 0.9951 0.9955 0.9958 0.9962 0.9965 0.9967 0.9970 0.9972 3
4 0.9802 0.9816 0.9828 0.9840 0.9851 0.9862 0.9871 0.9880 0.9889 0.9897 4

5 0.9483 0.9514 0.9544 0.9571 0.9597 0.9622 0.9645 0.9667 0.9688 0.9707 5
6 0.8902 0.8959 0.9014 0.9065 0.9115 0.9162 0.9207 0.9250 0.9290 0.9329 6
7 0.8022 0.8108 0.8192 0.8273 0.8351 0.8426 0.8498 0.8567 0.8634 0.8699 7
8 0.6877 0.6990 0.7100 0.7208 0.7313 0.7416 0.7515 0.7612 0.7706 0.7798 8
9 0.5574 0.5704 0.5832 0.5958 0.6082 0.6204 0.6324 0.6442 0.6558 0.6672 9

15
Table 2 Table of Poisson Probabilities - continued

 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 9.9 10.0 
r r
10 0.4258 0.4389 0.4521 0.4651 0.4782 0.4911 0.5040 0.5168 0.5295 0.5421 10
11 0.3059 0.3180 0.3301 0.3424 0.3547 0.3671 0.3795 0.3920 0.4045 0.4170 11
12 0.2068 0.2168 0.2270 0.2374 0.2480 0.2588 0.2697 0.2807 0.2919 0.3032 12
13 0.1316 0.1393 0.1471 0.1552 0.1636 0.1721 0.1809 0.1899 0.1991 0.2084 13
14 0.0790 0.0844 0.0900 0.0958 0.1019 0.1081 0.1147 0.1214 0.1284 0.1355 14

15 0.0448 0.0483 0.0520 0.0559 0.0600 0.0643 0.0688 0.0735 0.0784 0.0835 15
16 0.0240 0.0262 0.0285 0.0309 0.0335 0.0362 0.0391 0.0421 0.0454 0.0487 16
17 0.0122 0.0135 0.0148 0.0162 0.0177 0.0194 0.0211 0.0230 0.0249 0.0270 17
18 0.0059 0.0066 0.0073 0.0081 0.0089 0.0098 0.0108 0.0119 0.0130 0.0143 18
19 0.0027 0.0031 0.0034 0.0038 0.0043 0.0048 0.0053 0.0059 0.0065 0.0072 19

20 0.0012 0.0014 0.0015 0.0017 0.0020 0.0022 0.0025 0.0028 0.0031 0.0035 20
21 0.0005 0.0006 0.0007 0.0008 0.0009 0.0010 0.0011 0.0013 0.0014 0.0016 21
22 0.0002 0.0002 0.0003 0.0003 0.0004 0.0004 0.0005 0.0005 0.0006 0.0007 22
23 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0003 0.0003 23
24 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 24

 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 
r r
0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0
1 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1
2 0.9998 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 2
3 0.9988 0.9995 0.9998 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 3
4 0.9951 0.9977 0.9989 0.9995 0.9998 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 4

5 0.9849 0.9924 0.9963 0.9982 0.9991 0.9996 0.9998 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 5
6 0.9625 0.9797 0.9893 0.9945 0.9972 0.9986 0.9993 0.9997 0.9998 0.9999 6
7 0.9214 0.9542 0.9741 0.9858 0.9924 0.9960 0.9979 0.9990 0.9995 0.9997 7
8 0.8568 0.9105 0.9460 0.9684 0.9820 0.9900 0.9946 0.9971 0.9985 0.9992 8
9 0.7680 0.8450 0.9002 0.9379 0.9626 0.9780 0.9874 0.9929 0.9961 0.9979 9

10 0.6595 0.7576 0.8342 0.8906 0.9301 0.9567 0.9739 0.9846 0.9911 0.9950 10
11 0.5401 0.6528 0.7483 0.8243 0.8815 0.9226 0.9509 0.9696 0.9817 0.9892 11
12 0.4207 0.5384 0.6468 0.7400 0.8152 0.8730 0.9153 0.9451 0.9653 0.9786 12
13 0.3113 0.4240 0.5369 0.6415 0.7324 0.8069 0.8650 0.9083 0.9394 0.9610 13
14 0.2187 0.3185 0.4270 0.5356 0.6368 0.7255 0.7991 0.8574 0.9016 0.9339 14

15 0.1460 0.2280 0.3249 0.4296 0.5343 0.6325 0.7192 0.7919 0.8503 0.8951 15
16 0.0926 0.1556 0.2364 0.3306 0.4319 0.5333 0.6285 0.7133 0.7852 0.8435 16
17 0.0559 0.1013 0.1645 0.2441 0.3359 0.4340 0.5323 0.6249 0.7080 0.7789 17
18 0.0322 0.0630 0.1095 0.1728 0.2511 0.3407 0.4360 0.5314 0.6216 0.7030 18
19 0.0177 0.0374 0.0698 0.1174 0.1805 0.2577 0.3450 0.4378 0.5305 0.6186 19

20 0.0093 0.0213 0.0427 0.0765 0.1248 0.1878 0.2637 0.3491 0.4394 0.5297 20
21 0.0047 0.0116 0.0250 0.0479 0.0830 0.1318 0.1945 0.2693 0.3528 0.4409 21
22 0.0023 0.0061 0.0141 0.0288 0.0531 0.0892 0.1385 0.2009 0.2745 0.3563 22
23 0.0010 0.0030 0.0076 0.0167 0.0327 0.0582 0.0953 0.1449 0.2069 0.2794 23
24 0.0005 0.0015 0.0040 0.0093 0.0195 0.0367 0.0633 0.1011 0.1510 0.2125 24

25 0.0002 0.0007 0.0020 0.0050 0.0112 0.0223 0.0406 0.0683 0.1067 0.1568 25
26 0.0001 0.0003 0.0010 0.0026 0.0062 0.0131 0.0252 0.0446 0.0731 0.1122 26

16
Table 2 Table of Poisson Probabilities - continued

 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 
r r
27 0.0001 0.0005 0.0013 0.0033 0.0075 0.0152 0.0282 0.0486 0.0779 27
28 0.0001 0.0002 0.0006 0.0017 0.0041 0.0088 0.0173 0.0313 0.0525 28
29 0.0001 0.0003 0.0009 0.0022 0.0050 0.0103 0.0195 0.0343 29
30 0.0001 0.0004 0.0011 0.0027 0.0059 0.0118 0.0218 30
31 0.0001 0.0002 0.0006 0.0014 0.0033 0.0070 0.0135 31

32 0.0001 0.0003 0.0007 0.0018 0.0040 0.0081 32

33 0.0001 0.0004 0.0010 0.0022 0.0047 33
34 0.0001 0.0002 0.0005 0.0012 0.0027 34
35 0.0001 0.0002 0.0006 0.0015 35
36 0.0001 0.0003 0.0008 36

37 0.0001 0.0002 0.0004 37

38 0.0001 0.0002 38
39 0.0001 39
40 0.0001 40

 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 
r r
0 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 0
1 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1
2 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 2
3 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 3
4 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 4

5 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 5
6 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 6
7 0.9999 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 7
8 0.9996 0.9998 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 8
9 0.9989 0.9994 0.9997 0.9998 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 9

10 0.9972 0.9985 0.9992 0.9996 0.9998 0.9999 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 10
11 0.9937 0.9965 0.9980 0.9989 0.9994 0.9997 0.9998 0.9999 1.0000 1.0000 11
12 0.9871 0.9924 0.9956 0.9975 0.9986 0.9992 0.9996 0.9998 0.9999 0.9999 12
13 0.9755 0.9849 0.9909 0.9946 0.9969 0.9982 0.9990 0.9994 0.9997 0.9998 13
14 0.9566 0.9722 0.9826 0.9893 0.9935 0.9962 0.9978 0.9987 0.9993 0.9996 14

15 0.9284 0.9523 0.9689 0.9802 0.9876 0.9924 0.9954 0.9973 0.9984 0.9991 15
16 0.8889 0.9231 0.9480 0.9656 0.9777 0.9858 0.9912 0.9946 0.9967 0.9981 16
17 0.8371 0.8830 0.9179 0.9437 0.9623 0.9752 0.9840 0.9899 0.9937 0.9961 17
18 0.7730 0.8310 0.8772 0.9129 0.9395 0.9589 0.9726 0.9821 0.9885 0.9927 18
19 0.6983 0.7675 0.8252 0.8717 0.9080 0.9354 0.9555 0.9700 0.9801 0.9871 19

20 0.6157 0.6940 0.7623 0.8197 0.8664 0.9032 0.9313 0.9522 0.9674 0.9781 20
21 0.5290 0.6131 0.6899 0.7574 0.8145 0.8613 0.8985 0.9273 0.9489 0.9647 21
22 0.4423 0.5284 0.6106 0.6861 0.7527 0.8095 0.8564 0.8940 0.9233 0.9456 22
23 0.3595 0.4436 0.5277 0.6083 0.6825 0.7483 0.8048 0.8517 0.8896 0.9194 23
24 0.2840 0.3626 0.4449 0.5272 0.6061 0.6791 0.7441 0.8002 0.8471 0.8854 24

25 0.2178 0.2883 0.3654 0.4460 0.5266 0.6041 0.6758 0.7401 0.7958 0.8428 25
26 0.1623 0.2229 0.2923 0.3681 0.4471 0.5261 0.6021 0.6728 0.7363 0.7916 26
27 0.1174 0.1676 0.2277 0.2962 0.3706 0.4481 0.5256 0.6003 0.6699 0.7327 27

17
Table 2 Table of Poisson Probabilities - continued

 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 
r r
28 0.0825 0.1225 0.1726 0.2323 0.2998 0.3730 0.4491 0.5251 0.5986 0.6671 28
29 0.0564 0.0871 0.1274 0.1775 0.2366 0.3033 0.3753 0.4500 0.5247 0.5969 29

30 0.0374 0.0602 0.0915 0.1321 0.1821 0.2407 0.3065 0.3774 0.4508 0.5243 30
31 0.0242 0.0405 0.0640 0.0958 0.1367 0.1866 0.2447 0.3097 0.3794 0.4516 31
32 0.0152 0.0265 0.0436 0.0678 0.1001 0.1411 0.1908 0.2485 0.3126 0.3814 32
33 0.0093 0.0169 0.0289 0.0467 0.0715 0.1042 0.1454 0.1949 0.2521 0.3155 33
34 0.0055 0.0105 0.0187 0.0314 0.0498 0.0751 0.1082 0.1495 0.1989 0.2556 34

35 0.0032 0.0064 0.0118 0.0206 0.0338 0.0528 0.0787 0.1121 0.1535 0.2027 35
36 0.0018 0.0038 0.0073 0.0132 0.0225 0.0363 0.0559 0.0822 0.1159 0.1574 36
37 0.0010 0.0022 0.0044 0.0082 0.0146 0.0244 0.0388 0.0589 0.0856 0.1196 37
38 0.0005 0.0012 0.0026 0.0050 0.0092 0.0160 0.0263 0.0413 0.0619 0.0890 38
39 0.0003 0.0007 0.0015 0.0030 0.0057 0.0103 0.0175 0.0283 0.0438 0.0648 39

40 0.0001 0.0004 0.0008 0.0017 0.0034 0.0064 0.0113 0.0190 0.0303 0.0463 40
41 0.0001 0.0002 0.0004 0.0010 0.0020 0.0039 0.0072 0.0125 0.0205 0.0323 41
42 0.0001 0.0002 0.0005 0.0012 0.0024 0.0045 0.0080 0.0136 0.0221 42
43 0.0001 0.0003 0.0007 0.0014 0.0027 0.0050 0.0089 0.0148 43
44 0.0001 0.0002 0.0004 0.0008 0.0016 0.0031 0.0056 0.0097 44

45 0.0001 0.0002 0.0004 0.0009 0.0019 0.0035 0.0063 45

46 0.0001 0.0002 0.0005 0.0011 0.0022 0.0040 46
47 0.0001 0.0001 0.0003 0.0006 0.0013 0.0025 47
48 0.0001 0.0002 0.0004 0.0008 0.0015 48
49 0.0001 0.0002 0.0004 0.0009 49

50 0.0001 0.0002 0.0005 50

51 0.0001 0.0001 0.0003 51
52 0.0001 0.0002 52
53 0.0001 53
54 0.0001 54

18
 THE STANDARD NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
A continuous normal distribution that is written as X ~ N(μ, σ2) has two parameters, μ
and σ2 where μ is the mean and σ2 is the variance of X. The distribution Z of a
standardised normal where Z ~ N(0, 1) is used to determine the probability of any
X −μ
normal distribution X ~ N(μ, σ2) by using the formula Z = . The table gives the
σ
cumulative function of a standardised normal, φ(z) that is defined as

 z2 

1
P(Z ≥ z) = exp − dz .
2  2 
z  

P(Z  z)

0 z x

The first column gives the value of the first two digits of z and the first row gives the
value of the third digit of z. The table shows the probability for the values of z from
0.00 up to 4.09. For z > 4.10, the value of P(Z > 4.01) is less than 0.000005. For z <
0, use the relationship P(Z < 0) = P(Z > 0).

Example 3.1

Find (a) P(Z ≥ 1.45) (b) P(Z > 1.82) (c) P(Z > 2.99)

Solution

From the standard normal distribution table (p. 21),

(a) P(Z ≥ 1.45) = 0.0735
(b) P(Z > 1.82) = 0.0344
(c) P(Z > 2.99) = 0.00140

Example 3.2

Find (a) P(Z < 1.26)

(b) P(1.23 < Z < 2.42)
(c) P(–1.23 < Z < 2.42)

19
Solution

(a) P(Z < 1.26) = 1– P(Z ≥ 1.26)

= 1 – 0.1038
= 0.8962

z
1.26

(b) P(1.23 < Z < 2.42) = P(Z > 1.23) – P(Z > 2.42)
= 0.1093 – 0.0078
= 0.1015

z
1.23 2.42

(c) P(–1.23 < Z < 2.42) = 1 – P(Z < –1.23) – P(Z > 2.42)
= 1 – P(Z > 1.23) – P(Z > 2.42) (because of symmetry)
= 1 – 0.1093 – 0.0078
= 0.8829

-1.23 2.42
z

Example 3.3

Given X ~ N(25, 6.25). Find P(25 < X < 28).

Solution

 25 − 25 X − 25 28 − 25 
P(25 < X < 28) = P    
 6.25 6.25 6.25 
= P(0 < Z < 1.2)
= P(Z > 0) – P(Z > 1.2)
= 0.5000 – 0.1151
= 0.3849
1.2
z

20
Table 3 Table of the Standard Normal Distribution

z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 z

0.0 0.5000 0.4960 0.4920 0.4880 0.4840 0.4801 0.4761 0.4721 0.4681 0.4641 0.0
0.1 0.4602 0.4562 0.4522 0.4483 0.4443 0.4404 0.4364 0.4325 0.4286 0.4247 0.1
0.2 0.4207 0.4168 0.4129 0.4090 0.4052 0.4013 0.3974 0.3936 0.3897 0.3859 0.2
0.3 0.3821 0.3783 0.3745 0.3707 0.3669 0.3632 0.3594 0.3557 0.3520 0.3483 0.3
0.4 0.3446 0.3409 0.3372 0.3336 0.3300 0.3264 0.3228 0.3192 0.3156 0.3121 0.4

0.5 0.3085 0.3050 0.3015 0.2981 0.2946 0.2912 0.2877 0.2843 0.2810 0.2776 0.5
0.6 0.2743 0.2709 0.2676 0.2643 0.2611 0.2578 0.2546 0.2514 0.2483 0.2451 0.6
0.7 0.2420 0.2389 0.2358 0.2327 0.2296 0.2266 0.2236 0.2206 0.2177 0.2148 0.7
0.8 0.2119 0.2090 0.2061 0.2033 0.2005 0.1977 0.1949 0.1922 0.1894 0.1867 0.8
0.9 0.1841 0.1814 0.1788 0.1762 0.1736 0.1711 0.1685 0.1660 0.1635 0.1611 0.9

1.0 0.1587 0.1562 0.1539 0.1515 0.1492 0.1469 0.1446 0.1423 0.1401 0.1379 1.0
1.1 0.1357 0.1335 0.1314 0.1292 0.1271 0.1251 0.1230 0.1210 0.1190 0.1170 1.1
1.2 0.1151 0.1131 0.1112 0.1093 0.1075 0.1056 0.1038 0.1020 0.1003 0.0985 1.2
1.3 0.0968 0.0951 0.0934 0.0918 0.0901 0.0885 0.0869 0.0853 0.0838 0.0823 1.3
1.4 0.0808 0.0793 0.0778 0.0764 0.0749 0.0735 0.0721 0.0708 0.0694 0.0681 1.4

1.5 0.0668 0.0655 0.0643 0.0630 0.0618 0.0606 0.0594 0.0582 0.0571 0.0559 1.5
1.6 0.0548 0.0537 0.0526 0.0516 0.0505 0.0493 0.0485 0.0475 0.0465 0.0455 1.6
1.7 0.0446 0,0436 0.0427 0.0418 0.0409 0.0401 0.0392 0.0384 0.0375 0.0367 1.7
1.8 0.0359 0.0351 0.0344 0.0336 0.0329 0.0322 0.0314 0.0307 0.0301 0.0294 1.8
1.9 0.0287 0.0281 0.0274 0.0268 0.0262 0.0256 0.0250 0.0244 0.0239 0.0233 1.9

2.0 0.0228 0.0222 0.0217 0.0212 0.0207 0.0202 0.0197 0.0192 0.0187 0.0183 2.0
2.1 0.0179 0.0174 0.0170 0.0166 0.0162 0.0158 0.0154 0.0150 0.0146 0.0143 2.1
2.2 0.0139 0.0136 0.0132 0.0129 0.0126 0.0122 0.0119 0.0116 0.0113 0.0110 2.2
2.3 0.0107 0.0104 0.0102 0.0099 0.0096 0.0094 0.0091 0.0089 0.0087 0.0084 2.3
2.4 0.0082 0.0080 0.0078 0.0076 0.0073 0.0071 0.0070 0.0068 0.0066 0.0064 2.4

2.5 0.00621 0.00604 0.00587 0.00570 0.00554 0.00539 0.00523 0.00509 0.00494 0.00480 2.5
2.6 0.00466 0.00453 0.00440 0.00427 0.00415 0.00402 0.00391 0.00379 0.00368 0.00357 2.6
2.7 0.00347 0.00336 0.00326 0.00317 0.00307 0.00298 0.00289 0.00280 0.00272 0.00264 2.7
2.8 0.00256 0.00248 0.00240 0.00233 0.00226 0.00219 0.00212 0.00205 0.00199 0.00193 2.8
2.9 0.00187 0.00181 0.00175 0.00170 0.00164 0.00159 0.00154 0.00149 0.00144 0.00140 2.9

3.0 0.00135 0.00131 0.00126 0.00122 0.00118 0.00114 0.00111 0.00107 0.00104 0.00100 3.0
3.1 0.00097 0.00094 0.00090 0.00087 0.00084 0.00082 0.00079 0.00076 0.00074 0.00071 3.1
3.2 0.00096 0.00066 0.00064 0.00062 0.00060 0.00058 0.00056 0.00054 0.00052 0.00050 3.2
3.3 0.00048 0.00047 0.00045 0.00043 0.00042 0.00040 0.00039 0.00038 0.00036 0.00035 3.3
3.4 0.00034 0.00032 0.00031 0.00030 0.00029 0.00028 0.00027 0.00026 0.00025 0.00024 3.4

3.5 0.00023 0.00022 0.00022 0.00021 0.00020 0.00019 0.00019 0.00018 0.00017 0.00017 3.5
3.6 0.00016 0.00015 0.00015 0.00014 0.00014 0.00013 0.00013 0.00012 0.00012 0.00011 3.6
3.7 0.00011 0.00010 0.00010 0.00010 0.00009 0.00009 0.00008 0.00008 0.00008 0.00008 3.7
3.8 0.00007 0.00007 0.00007 0.00006 0.00006 0.00006 0.00006 0.00005 0.00005 0.00005 3.8
3.9 0.00005 0.00005 0.00004 0.00004 0.00004 0.00004 0.00004 0.00004 0.00003 0.00003 3.9
4.0 0.00003 0.00003 0.00003 0.00003 0.00003 0.00003 0.00002 0.00002 0.00002 0.00002 4.0

21
 PERCENTAGE POINTS OF
THE STANDARD NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
The table gives the percentage points 100α, zα and α of a standardised normal

z2

1
distribution where α is defined as α = exp(- )dz . zα is the value of a
2 2
z
standardised normal variate which has the probability α of being exceeded, that is P(Z
> zα) = α. The table shows the value of zα for α from 0.50 up to 0.0001.

α
α

0 zα x

The first column shows the probability α and the second column shows the variate
value for the corresponding standardised normal.

Example 4.1

Find the value of zα if

(a) P(Z > zα) = 0.30 (b) P(Z > zα) = 0.026

Solution

(a) From the table (p.24), zα = 0.5244

(b) From the table (p. 24), zα = 1.9431

Example 4.2

Find the value of α if

(a) P(Z < α) = 0.98 (b) P(Z < α) = 0.75

Solution 0.02

(a) Given that P(Z < α) = 0.98 or P(Z > α) = 0.02

From the table, α = 2.0537 α
z

22
 (b) Given that P(Z < α) = 0.75
We know that a standard normal distribution is symmetric at z = 0 where
P(Z > 0) = 0.5. Hence, a is negative.
Then, P(Z > α) = 1 – P(Z < – α) = 0.75
However, P(Z < – α) = P(Z > α) = 0.25 (because of symmetry)
From the table, P(Z > 0.6745) = 0.25.
Therefore α = –0.6745.

0.75

-α z

Example 4.3

Find the value of α if P(|z| < α) = 0.95.

Solution

P(|z| < α) = P(–α < Z < α)

= 1 – P(Z < – α) – P(Z > α)
= 1 – 2 P(Z > α)

So, 1 – 2 P(Z > α) = 0.95

P(Z > α) = 0.025
From the table,
P(Z > 1.96) = 0.025
Therefore, α = 1.96 0.95

-α α z

23
Table 4 Table of Percentage Points of the Normal Distribution

α zα α zα

0.50 0.0000 0.022 2.0141

0.45 0.1257 0.021 2.0335
0.40 0.2533 0.020 2.0537
0.35 0.4853 0.019 2.0749
0.30 0.5244 0.018 2.0969

0.25 0.6745 0.017 2.1201

0.20 0.8416 0.016 2.1444
0.15 1.0364 0.015 2.1701
0.10 1.2816 0.014 2.1973
0.05 1.6449 0.013 2.2262

0.048 1.6646 0.012 2.2571

0.046 1.6849 0.011 2.2904
0.044 1.7060 0.010 2.3263
0.042 1.7279 0.009 2.3656
0.040 1.7504 0.008 2.4089

0.038 1.7744 0.007 2.4573

0.036 1.7991 0.006 2.5121
0.034 1.8250 0.005 2.5758
0.032 1.8522 0.004 2.6521
0.030 1.8808 0.003 2.7478

0.029 1.8957 0.002 2.8782

0.028 1.9910 0.001 3.0902
0.027 1.9268 0.0005 3.2905
0.026 1.9431 0.0001 3.7190
0.025 1.9600 0.00005 3.8906

0.024 1.9774 0.00001 4.2649

0.023 1.9954

24