Chapter 1. Normal Density Curve

Statistical Applets

The applet calculates the area shaded dark yellow under the curve. To find the proportion of values less than a given value, drag the left flag to that value. Similarly, to find the proportion of values greater than a given value, drag the right flag to that value. For the proportion between two values, drag the right flag to the smaller value, and the left flag to the larger value.

The mean and standard deviation (std. dev.) characterize the normal density curve. The mean is the center point of the density curve. In the applet below, four std. dev. to the left and to the right of the mean are marked on the graph axis. To change these parameters type in the desired value(s) and press the UPDATE button. By default the mean is set equal to 0 and the std. dev. is set equal to 1 (i.e., "Standard Normal Density").

The curve tails are delimited by the two vertical green flags. The tail values can be set by clicking on a flag and dragging. Notice that a flag's value is displayed at the top of each flag. If the 2-Tail checkbox is checked the tails are locked symmetrically around the mean.

1.

Set the mean and standard deviation to 0 and 5, respectively. Use the applet to find the value for which approximately 5% of the area under the normal curve lies to the right of this value. Enter your answer below. (Your answer should be accurate to within 1 decimal place.)

3
Correct.
Try again.
Incorrect.

2.

Consider what would happen if you were to change the mean to 50 and keep the standard deviation at 5. Can you predict the new value for which approximately 5% of the area under the normal curve lies to the right of this value? Use the applet to test your prediction, then enter the answer below. (Your answer should be accurate to within 1 decimal place.)

3
Correct.
Try again.
Incorrect.

3.

Suppose you know that the amount of time it takes your friend Susan to get from her residence to class averages 50 minutes, with a standard deviation of 5 minutes. Use the applet to answer the questions below.

  • What proportion of Susan's trips to class would take more than 50 minutes? (Hint: you should not need to use the applet to know this value)
  • What proportion of Susan's trips to class would less than 40 minutes?
  • What proportion of Susan's trips to class would take more than 50 minutes or less than 40 minutes?

(Your answers should all accurate to within 2 decimal places.)

3
Try again.
Incorrect. See above for the correct answers.
Great job.
Various calculations using the applet

4.

Now return the mean and standard deviation to 0 and 5, respectively. What proportion of the normal density curve with this mean and standard deviation falls below the value -10.0? Enter your answer below. (Your answer should be accurate to within 3 decimal places.)

3
Correct.
Try again.
Incorrect.

5.

Consider what would happen if you were to change the mean to 10 and keep the standard deviation at 5. Can you predict the proportion of the normal density curve that would now fall below the value 0.0? Use the applet to test your prediction, then enter the answer below. (Your answer should be accurate to within 3 decimal places.)

3
Correct.
Try again.
Incorrect.

6.

Explain why the answers to the last two questions are identical.

No matter what the mean and standard deviation, if a distribution is normal, 0.023 of the area under the curve will fall below the value that is two standard deviations below the mean. -10.0 was two standard deviations below the mean in the first question, and 0.0 was two standard deviations below the mean in the second question; hence the two answers were identical.