THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
Dr. O. J. Akinsola
College of Medicine,
University of Lagos
Lecture Outline
What is a Normal Distribution
Description of the Normal Curve
Converting an X- value to Z-score
Application of the Normal Curve in Medicine
and Public Health
Why the Normal Distribution
Empirically, many biological variables tend to
follow the normal distribution (weight, height,
systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol, etc
Most widely used distribution in statistical
inferences
Statistical meaning and usage is different from
medical usage. (Normal vs abnormal)
What is the Normal
Distribution?
Normal distributions are a family of
distributions that have the same general shape.
They are symmetric with values (scores) more
concentrated in the middle than in the tails.
Normal distributions are sometimes referred to
as Gaussian distribution in honour of the man
(Karl Gauss) who discovered it.
Properties of Normal Distribution
The curve is symmetrical
Bell-shaped
Mean =median= mode
The curve represents
probability with total area of 1
The shape is determined by
two parameters: and σ
68%
34% 34%
-1 +1
σ≈ 68%
2σ≈ 95%
3σ≈ 99.7%
68%
34% 34%
-3 -2 -1 +1 +2 +3
Converting x-values to Z
x-
Z= -------
σ
Let = 60 kg and σ =5.
If x=70, then Z = (70-60)/5= 2 (i.e 2 sd units)
Converting x-values to Z
x-
Z= -------
σ
Let = 60 kg and σ =5.
If x=68, then Z = (68-60)/5= 1.60 (i.e 1.60 sd units),
If x =55, then Z = (55-60)/5= -1
Tables of the Normal Curve
The standardized normal curve has =0 and σ
=1
The area in the SNC above Z=1 is 0.159 ≈ 16%
The area in the SNC below Z= -1 is 0.159 ≈16%
Find area between -1 and + 1
Find the area above Z=1.96
Find area between -1.96 and + 1.96
Using a SNC for determining probability
x-
Z= -------
σ
Let = 60 kg and σ =5.
What is probability of finding an individual
whose weight is (a) > 68 kg? (b) >70kg
(c) <55 kg (d) < 53kg (e) btwn 55 and 65 kg
Practice Exercise
A nurse supervisor has found that staff nurses, on the average,
complete a certain task in 10 minutes. If the times required to
complete the task are approximately normally distributed with a
standard deviation of 3 minutes, find:
i) The proportion of nurses completing the task in less than 4
minutes (5 marks).
ii) The proportion of nurses requiring more than 5 minutes to
complete the task (5 marks).
iii) The probability that a nurse who has just been assigned the task
will complete it within 3 minutes (5 marks).
Thanks for being patient
