Probability Distributions
Mathematical functions that describe the likelihood of obtaining possible values of a random variable.
Normal Distribution
The normal distribution is a continuous probability distribution that is symmetric about the mean, showing that data near the mean are more frequent than data far from the mean. The graph of the normal distribution is characterized by a bell-shaped curve.
Formula
f(x) = (1 / (σ√(2π))) * e^(-(x-μ)² / (2σ²))
Parameters
- μ (Mean): The mean of the distribution, which is also the location of its peak.
- σ (Standard Deviation): A measure of the amount of variation or dispersion from the mean.
Visualization
Real-world Examples
- Heights of people in a population
- IQ scores
- Measurement errors
- Blood pressure readings