The Normal Probability
Distribution
Lecture 3
McGraw-Hill/Irwin ©The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 2008
GOALS
List the characteristics of the normal probability distribution.
Define and calculate z values.
Determine the probability an observation is between two points
on a normal probability distribution.
Determine the probability an observation is above (or below) a
point on a normal probability distribution.
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Continuous Random Variables
A continuous random variable
has an “uncountable infinite” number of values
can assume any value in the interval
A continuous random variable
• For example survey student’s heights.
X: height of randomly selected student
Height is an example of a continuous random
variable.
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Characteristics of a Normal
Probability Distribution
It is bell-shaped and has a single peak at the center of the distribution.
The arithmetic mean, median, and mode are equal
The total area under the curve is 1.00; half the area under the normal curve is to the right of this center point and the other half to the left of it.
It is symmetrical about the mean.
It is asymptotic: The curve gets closer and closer to the X-axis but never actually touches it. To put it another way, the tails of the curve extend indefinitely in both
directions.
The location of a normal distribution is determined by the mean,, the dispersion or spread of the distribution is determined by the standard deviation,σ .
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The Normal Distribution - Graphically
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The Normal Distribution - Families
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Standard Normal Distribution
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The Standard Normal Probability
Distribution
The standard normal distribution is a normal distribution with a mean of 0 and a standard
deviation of 1.
It is also called the z distribution.
A z-value is the distance between a selected value, designated X, and the population
mean , divided by the population standard deviation, σ.
The formula is:
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How to read the standard normal
tables
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Sampling and
Sampling Distribution
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Central Limit
Theorem
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Estimation and Confidence
Intervals
McGraw-Hill/Irwin ©The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 2008
GOALS
Define a point estimate.
Define level of confidence.
Construct a confidence interval for the population
mean when the population standard deviation is
known.
Construct a confidence interval for a population
mean when the population standard deviation is
unknown.
Construct a confidence interval for a population
proportion.
Determine the sample size for attribute and variable
sampling.
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Point and Interval Estimates
A point estimate is the statistic, computed from sample information, which is used
to estimate the population parameter.
A confidence interval estimate is a range of values constructed from sample data
so that the population parameter is likely to occur within that range at a specified
probability. The specified probability is called the level of confidence.
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Interval Estimates - Interpretation
For a 95% confidence interval about 95% of the similarly constructed
intervals will contain the parameter being estimated. Also 95% of
the sample means for a specified sample size will lie within 1.96
standard deviations of the hypothesized population
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Characteristics of the t-distribution
1. It is, like the z distribution, a continuous distribution.
2. It is, like the z distribution, bell-shaped and
symmetrical.
3. There is not one t distribution, but rather a family of t
distributions. All t distributions have a mean of 0, but
their standard deviations differ according to the
sample size, n.
4. The t distribution is more spread out and flatter at the
center than the standard normal distribution As the
sample size increases, however, the t distribution
approaches the standard normal distribution,
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Comparing the z and t Distributions
when n is small
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Confidence Interval Estimates for the
Mean
Use Z-distribution Use t-distribution
If the population If the population
standard deviation standard deviation
is known or the is unknown and the
sample is greater sample is less than
than 30. 30.
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When to Use the z or t Distribution for
Confidence Interval Computation
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Confidence Interval for a Population
Proportion
The confidence interval for a
population proportion is estimated
by:
p(1 p)
p z / 2
n
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Confidence Interval for a Population
Proportion- Example
The union representing the Bottle
Blowers of America (BBA) is First, compute the sample proportion :
considering a proposal to merge x 1,600
with the Teamsters Union. p 0.80
n 2000
According to BBA union bylaws,
at least three-fourths of the union
membership must approve any Compute the 95% C.I.
merger. A random sample of p (1 p )
2,000 current BBA members C.I. p z / 2
n
reveals 1,600 plan to vote for the
merger proposal. What is the .80(1 .80)
0.80 1.96 .80 .018
estimate of the population 2,000
proportion? (0.782,0.818)
Develop a 95 percent confidence
interval for the population Conclude : The merger proposal will likely pass
proportion. Basing your decision
on this sample information, can because the interval estimate includes values greater
you conclude that the necessary than 75 percent of the union membership.
proportion of BBA members favor
the merger? Why?
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Confidence Interval Formulas for Estimating Means
and Proportions with Finite Population Correction
C.I. for the Mean () C.I. for the Mean ()
N n s N n
X z X t
n N 1 n N 1
C.I. for the Proportion ()
p (1 p ) N n
pz
n N 1
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