EXCEL and the NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

Open up Microsoft Excel in Microsoft Office. In column A, row 2 type "Ex. 1a" and then place the cursor in row 2, column B. Double click on the function key found on the tool bar.

From the pop-up menu that appears, choose "Statistical" from Function category, and then choose "NORMDIST" from Function list. Click OK.

Suppose we have the following Normal probability problem: Heights of all adult American males are normally distributed with a mean of 67.85 inches and a standard deviation of 3.486 inches. Determine the following probabilities for any randomly selected male:

a) The probability that the height is less than 60 inches:

    

TRUE will return the cumulative probability of

b) Find the probability that the height is between five-and-a-half to six feet.

Change feet to inches, find the cumulative for 66 inches, find the cumulative for 72 inches, then

subtract the smaller from the larger.

For this one, simply position the cursor on cell B3, then type the equal sign (=) followed by the formula shown above. This shortcuts the menu accessing.

c) Find the probability that the height is greater than 75 inches.

For this one, use the complement: . In the cell B4 type the following:

= 1 - normdist(75, 67.85, 3.486, true)

The answer sheet for this example would like something like this:

Now go to FILE - PAGE SETUP -SHEET and turn on the gridlines- then choose HEADER/FOOTER - CUSTOM HEADER to type your name and MA 161 in the Right Section , put a title in the center section, hit OK , and Print.