Activity 8

Normal Distribution
Topic Area: Data Analysis and Probability
NCTM Standard: Select and use appropriate statistical methods to
analyze data.
Objective: The student will be able to utilize the Casio fx-9!"# Plus
calculator to determine the ran$e of %alues& limit of inter%als& and probability
of %alues on a normal distribution.
Introduction: This acti%ity is desi$ned to demonstrate the procedure to
enter data into the Casio fx-9!"# Plus $raphin$ calculator in order to
determine the ran$e of %alues& limits of inter%als& and probability of %alues
on a normal distribution that students will need to e%aluate from a $i%en set
of data.
The students should be familiar with the followin$ %ocabulary.
'nter%al ran$e
(ormal Cur%e
(ormal Distribution
Probability
)an$e limits
Students should also be familiar with the normal distribution $raph. They
should understand where the mean is located on the $raph and *& + and ,
standard de%iations from the mean. They should also understand that the
$raph contains *""- of the data with ."- of the data abo%e the mean and
."- of the data below the mean. /ne standard de%iation contains !.,- of
the data centered about the mean. Two standard de%iations contain 9...- of
the data centered about the mean. Three standard de%iations contain 99.0-
of the data centered about the mean. Students should also ha%e access to t-P
tables.
*
Calculator Notes for Activity 8
Objective: The student will be able to utilize the Casio fx-
9!"# Plus calculator to determine the ran$e of %alues&
limit of inter%als& and probability of %alues on a normal
distribution.
Steps for sin! Normal Distribution
Problem1 A test was administered to +"&""" students and
the results were normally distributed. The mean score on
the test was !2. The standard de%iation was . Determine
the followin$1
*. 3ow many students are one de%iation from the mean4
Two4 Three4 *.! de%iations4
+. 5hat scores are one de%iation from the mean4 Two4
Three4 *.! de%iations4
,. 3ow many students will score between ." and 0" on
the test4
2. 3ow many students will score abo%e 0+4
.. 3ow many students will score abo%e ."4
!. 6ind the upper and lower limits of an inter%al about
the mean within which "- of the students scored.
0. 6ind the limit below which 9"- of the students lie.
. 'f the passin$ score was ."& how many of the
students passed4
+
7sin$ the fx-9!"# Plus calculator ma8es these
9uestions %ery easy to calculate.
*. 3ow many students are one de%iation from the mean4
Two4 Three4 *.! de%iations4 To answer this 9uestion you
need to use the followin$ probability numbers from the t-P
tables1
* de%iation : .!,
+ de%iations : .9..
, de%iations : .990
*.! de%iations : .9*
* de%iation : ;.!,<;+""""< : *,&!!"
+ de%iations : ;.9..<;+""""< : *9&*""
, de%iations : ;.990<;+""""< : *9&92"
*.! de%iations : ;.9*<;+""""< : *0&+"
+. 5hat scores are the ran$e limits for one de%iation
from the mean4 Two4 Three4 *.!4 To answer this
9uestion& use the fx-90!"# Plus $raphin$ calculator.
Turn the calculator on& $o to the STAT menu& to
D'ST& to (/)= and then to 'n%erse (ormal. 7se the
followin$ 8ey stro8es to $et to the screen that follows.
O$lyqe
,
/n this screen& set the Tail to Central& Area to .!,&
s
;standard de%iation< to &
m
;mean< to !2& Sa%e )es should
be left at (one& and >xecute $o to Calc. 7se these
8eystro8es to $et to the followin$ screen.
eN.683Nl8l64lNq
The scores at * de%iation ran$e from .! to 0+.
)epeat the same 8ey stro8es for + de%iations ;usin$ .9..
for Area<& , de%iations ;usin$ .900 for Area< and *.!
de%iations ;usin$ .9* for Area<. The followin$ screens
will yield your answers.
2
The scores at + de%iation ran$e from 2 to ".
The scores at , de%iation ran$e from 2" to .
The scores at *.! de%iation ran$e from .* to 00.
,. 3ow many students will score between ." and 0" on
the test4 To answer this 9uestion& exit this screen& $o
.
to D'ST& (/)= and (ormal C.D. 7se these 8ey
stro8es to $et to the followin$ screen.
ddyqw
/n this screen& set the lower limit to ." and the upper limit
to 0". ?ea%e the standard de%iation & and the mean !2.
7se these 8ey stro8es to $et the followin$ screen.
50l70ll
This means that the probability is .0,,. Therefore& multiply
the probability by the total number of students to $et the
answer.
!
There will be *2&!!" students that score between ." and 0"
on the test&
2. 3ow many students will score abo%e 0+4 To answer
this 9uestion& recall that ."- of the students will
score abo%e the mean of !2 and ."- of the students
will score below the mean of !2.
."- of the +"&""" students : *"&"""
Therefore& you need to find the number of students
between !2 and 0+.
7se these 8eystro8es to $et to the followin$ screen.
p$lyqw64l72ll
0
;+""""<;.,2*< : !&+" students.
To find the students abo%e 0+& subtract !+" from *"""".
*"""" @ !+" : ,*"
Therefore& ,&*" students scored abo%e 0+.
.. 3ow many students will score abo%e ."4
To find this answer& you will need to find the number of
students that score between ." and !2 ;the mean<. Then
add these students to *"&""" ;the other ."-<.
7se these 8ey stro8es to $et to the followin$ screen.
p$lyqw50l64ll
Since the probability : .2!"& use the followin$ steps.
;+""""<;.2!"< : 9+""
*"""" A 9+"" : *9&+""

Therefore& *9&+"" students will score abo%e ." on the

test.
!. 6ind the upper and lower limits of an inter%al about
the mean within which "- of the students scored.
To sol%e this problem& use the 'n%erse (ormal screen to
enter the probability of "- ;.""< into the Area. 7se
these 8ey stro8es to $et to the followin$ screen.
p$lyqeN.8ll
This means that "- of the students scored between .2
and 02 on the test.
0. 6ind the limit below which 9"- of the students lie.
To answer this 9uestion& you need to recall that the limits
need to center about the mean. This problem has ."-
below the mean and 2"- abo%e the mean. The limit we
need is the upper limit of the 2"- section. 'f 2"- is
abo%e the mean then 2"- would be below the mean and
9
"- would be centered about the mean. 7se the 'n%erse
(ormal screen to determine the limits. 7se these 8ey
stro8es to $et the followin$ screen.
pyqeN.8ll
Therefore& 9"- of the students scored below 02.
. 'f the passin$ score was ."& how many of the students
passed4
To sol%e this problem& you need to find the number of
students between ." and !2& then add these students to
*"&""" ;."- of the students<. Therefore& use the (ormal
C.D. screen to fill in the limits to find the probability.
7se these 8eystro8es to $et the followin$ screen.
pldyqw50l64ll
*"
Since the probability is .2!"& use the followin$
calculations.
;+""""<;.2!"< : 9+""
*"""" A 9+"" : *9&+"" students
Therefore& *9&+"" students passed the test.
Name"""""""""""""""""""""Class"""""""Date""""""
Activity 8: #or$s%eet
Normal Distribution
Problem1 A test was administered to *&."" students and the
results were normally distributed. The mean score on the
test was .!. The standard de%iation was !.+. Determine
the followin$1
*. 3ow many students are .0 de%iations from the mean4
;from the t-P table& .0 de%iations : ..*!<.
+. 5hat scores are .0 de%iations from the mean4
,. 3ow many students will score between !" and !. on
the test4
**
2. 3ow many students will score abo%e !.4
.. 3ow many students will score below !,4
!. 6ind the upper and lower limits of an inter%al about
the mean within which 0.- of the students scored4
0. 6ind the score that students had to $et to be in the
upper *"-.
. 'f the passin$ score was ."& how many of the students
passed4
Solutions to Activity 8: #or$s%eet
*. 002
+. .+ to !"
,. +09
2. !2.
.. *&,".
!. 29 to !,
0. !2
. *&+2.
*+