Standardisation of Normal Variables (DP IB Analysis & Approaches (AA)) : Revision Note

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Standard Normal Distribution

What is the standard normal distribution?

  • The standard normal distribution is a normal distribution where the mean is 0 and the standard deviation is 1

    • It is denoted by Z

    • Z tilde text N end text left parenthesis 0 comma space 1 squared right parenthesis

Why is the standard normal distribution important?

  • Any normal distribution curve can be transformed to the standard normal distribution curve by a horizontal translation and a horizontal stretch

  • Therefore we have the relationship:

    • Z equals fraction numerator X minus mu over denominator sigma end fraction 

    • Where X tilde text N end text left parenthesis mu comma space sigma squared right parenthesis and Z tilde text N end text left parenthesis 0 comma space 1 squared right parenthesis

  • Probabilities are related by:

    • straight P left parenthesis a less than X less than b right parenthesis equals straight P stretchy left parenthesis fraction numerator a minus mu over denominator sigma end fraction less than Z less than fraction numerator b minus mu over denominator sigma end fraction stretchy right parenthesis 

    • This will be useful when the mean or variance is unknown

  • Some mathematicians use the function straight capital phi left parenthesis z right parenthesis to represent straight P left parenthesis Z less than z right parenthesis

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z-values

What are z-values (standardised values)?

  • For a normal distribution X tilde straight N left parenthesis mu comma space sigma squared right parenthesisthe z-value (standardised value) of an x-value tells you how many standard deviations it is away from the mean

    • If z = 1 then that means the x-value is 1 standard deviation bigger than the mean

    • If z = -1 then that means the x-value is 1 standard deviation smaller than the mean

  • If the x-value is more than the mean then its corresponding z-value will be positive

  • If the x-value is less than the mean then its corresponding z-value will be negative

  • The z-value can be calculated using the formula:

    • z equals fraction numerator x minus mu over denominator sigma end fraction 

    • This is given in the formula booklet

  • z-values can be used to compare values from different distributions

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Finding Sigma and Mu

How do I find the mean (μ) or the standard deviation (σ) if one of them is unknown? 

  • If the mean or standard deviation of X tilde straight N left parenthesis mu comma space sigma squared right parenthesis is unknown then you will need to use the standard normal distribution

  • You will need to use the formula

    • z equals fraction numerator x minus mu over denominator sigma end fraction or its rearranged form x equals mu plus sigma z

  • You will be given a probability for a specific value of

    • straight P left parenthesis X less than x right parenthesis equals p or straight P left parenthesis X greater than x right parenthesis equals p

  • To find the unknown parameter:

  • STEP 1: Sketch the normal curve

    • Label the known value and the mean

  • STEP 2: Find the z-value for the given value of x  

    • Use the Inverse Normal Distribution to find the value of z such that straight P left parenthesis Z less than z right parenthesis equals p or straight P left parenthesis Z greater than z right parenthesis equals p

    • Make sure the direction of the inequality for Z is consistent with the inequality for X

    • Try to use lots of decimal places for the z-value or store your answer to avoid rounding errors

      • You should use at least one extra decimal place within your working than your intended degree of accuracy for your answer

  • STEP 3: Substitute the known values into z equals fraction numerator x minus mu over denominator sigma end fraction or x equals mu plus sigma z

    • You will be given and one of the parameters (μ or σ) in the question

    • You will have calculated z in STEP 2

  • STEP 4: Solve the equation

How do I find the mean (μ) and the standard deviation (σ) if both of them are unknown? 

  • If both of them are unknown then you will be given two probabilities for two specific values of x

  • The process is the same as above

    • You will now be able to calculate two z -values

    • You can form two equations (rearranging to the form x equals mu plus sigma z is helpful)

    • You now have to solve the two equations simultaneously (you can use your calculator to do this)

    • Be careful not to mix up which z-value goes with which value of x

Worked Example

It is known that the times, in minutes, taken by students at a school to eat their lunch can be modelled using a normal distribution with mean μ minutes and standard deviation σ minutes.

Given that 10% of students at the school take less than 12 minutes to eat their lunch and 5% of the students take more than 40 minutes to eat their lunch, find the mean and standard deviation of the time taken by the students at the school.

4-6-3-ib-aa-sl-finding-mu-sigma-we-solution
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Dan Finlay

Author: Dan Finlay

Expertise: Maths Lead

Dan graduated from the University of Oxford with a First class degree in mathematics. As well as teaching maths for over 8 years, Dan has marked a range of exams for Edexcel, tutored students and taught A Level Accounting. Dan has a keen interest in statistics and probability and their real-life applications.

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