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Normal distribution calculator

Model a continuous measurement with a bell-shaped distribution. Enter the mean and a positive standard deviation in the same unit as the measurement.

Calculator

Value
1.000000
Density or probability mass
0.241971
P(X ≤ x)
84.134475%
P(X > x)
15.865525%
Selected probability
84.134475%
Mean
0.000000
Variance
1.000000
Standard deviation
1.000000

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How this calculator works

The mean locates the centre and the standard deviation sets the scale. Standardising a value gives its z-score. Cumulative probability is area to its left; interval probability is the area between two bounds. Point density has inverse measurement units and is not the probability of one exact value.

Formula

z = (x - μ)/σ; f(x) = exp(-z²/2)/(σ√(2π)); F(x) = Φ(z); x_p = μ + σΦ⁻¹(p).

Worked example

With mean 100 and SD 15, x = 100 has cumulative probability 50%. The interval 85 to 115 contains about 68.2689%.

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Frequently asked questions

Can a density exceed one?

Yes. Density is area per unit of x. Only an integrated probability must lie between zero and one.

Is the model appropriate for any data?

No. Strong skew, truncation or several clusters can make a normal model misleading.

What is the probability at one exact value?

It is zero for this continuous model. Use an interval to describe measurement tolerance.

Sources

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