Normal Distributions Introduction

Many natural phenomena can be closely approximated by simple statistical distributions. The most common of these distributions is the normal distribution, most often referred to by laypeople as the "bell-shaped curve." Because of its prevalence, the normal distribution is the foundation of many statistical methods. This module introduces the normal distribution.

After completing this module, you should be able to ...

1. Describe the shape, center, and dispersion of a normal distribution.
2. Explain the physical characteristics of a normal distribution that are represented by the mean and standard deviation.
3. Estimate percentages of individuals and values of variables using the 68-95-99.7 Rule.
4. Identify the difference between "forward" and "reverse" types of calculations.