Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Regional Office IX, Zamboanga Peninsula

11 Zest for Progress

Z Peal of artnership

Statistics & Probability

Quarter 3 - Module 4:
Standard Scores and the Normal Curve

Name of Learner: ___________________________

Grade & Section: ___________________________
Name of School: ___________________________
 What I Need to Know
The module contains only one lesson:

Lesson 4 – Standard Scores and the Normal Curve

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. identifies regions under the normal curve corresponding to different

standard normal values;
2. converts a normal random variable to a standard normal variable and vice
versa;
3. computes probabilities and percentiles using the standard normal table.

What I Know
A. Directions: Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. What is the decimal point of 10%?

a. 0.010 b. 0.100 c. 0.001 d. 0.0001
2. What is the value of 0.99 in percent?
a. 99% b. 0.09% c. 0.99% d. 0.0099%

3. What is the mean of the following scores ( ) ?

a. 11 b. 12 c. 13 d. 14
4. What is the area under the curve of a Z-score of –1.35?
a. 0.0883 b. 0.0884 c. 0.0885 d. 0.0886

5. What is the value of 77% when you convert it to decimal?

a. 0.077 b. 0.77 c. 0.0077 d. 0.0770

6. What is the area under the curve of a Z-score of 2.81?

a. 0.9974 b. 0.9975 c. 0.9976 d. 0.9977

7. What is the mean of the following scores in Math midterm exam

( ) ?
b. 99 b. 98 c. 97 d. 96
8. What is the area under the curve of a Z-score of –1.60?
a. 0.0548 b. 0.0537 c. 0.0526 d. 0.0505

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 9. The annual salaries of employees in a certain company are approximately
normally distributed with a mean of ₱180,000 and a standard deviation of
₱20,000. What percentage of the employees earns less than ₱150,000?
a. 4.5% b. 6.68% c. 8. 8% d.10.2%
10. In a “largest pumpkin” contest, the radii of the pumpkins have a normal
distribution with a mean of 6 inches and a standard deviation of 1.5 inches.
Suppose you want to know what length marks the bottom 20% of all pumpkin
radii in the contest. What percentile are you looking for?
a. 20 percentile b. 50 percentile c. 75 percentile d. 90 percentile

What’s In

Activity 1: Fill-in Me!

Directions: Fill in the mean of the given set of values by choosing your answer in the
box.
_______1. * +
_______2. * + 38.5 27
_______3. * + 22.5
_______4. * + 60.5 35
_______5. * +

What’s New
Activity 2: Me and my Value.

Directions: Looking at the table, determine the area under the curve of the following
Z-scores.

Z 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
-3.0 0.0013 0.0013 0.0013 0.0012 0.0012 0.0011 0.0011 0.0011 0.0010 0.0010

3.0 0.9987 0.09987 0.9987 0.9988 0.9988 0.9989 0.9989 0.9989 0.9990 0.99990

-2.0 0.0228 0.0222 0.0217 0.0212 0.0207 0.0202 0.0197 0.0192 0.0188 0.0183

2.0 0.9772 0.9978 0.9783 0.9788 0.9793 0.9798 0.9803 0.9808 0.9812 0.9817

-1.0 0.1587 0.1562 0.1539 0.1515 0.1492 0.1469 0.1446 0.1423 0.1401 0.1379

1.0 0.8413 0.8438 0.8461 0.8485 0.8508 0.8531 0.8554 0.8577 0.8599 0.8621

1. _______ Z-score of -1.05 4. _______Z-score of -2.04

2. _______ Z-score of 2.08 5. _______Z-score of 3.07
3. _______ Z-score of -3.09
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 What is it
IDENTIFIES REGIONS UNDER THE NORMAL CURVE CORRESPONDING TO
DIFFERENT STANDARD NORMAL VALUES

This is the normal curve of a standard normal distribution. Note that its center is
above the mean, which is zero, and its standard deviation is equal to 1.

68% of the area of a normal distribution is within one standard deviation of the
mean. This also means that in a standard normal distribution, the probability of getting
a Z-score between Z=-1 and Z=1 is approximately 0.68.

Approximately 95.4% of the area of a normal distribution is within two

standard deviations of the mean. This means that in a standard normal distribution, the
probability of getting a Z-score between Z=-2 and Z =2 is about 0.954.

Notice that almost all values (99.7%) fall within three standard deviations of the
mean.

Region Under the Curve

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 In general, when we speak of a region under the curve, we are in fact interested
in the area of that region and we can associate it further with probability,
proportion, or percentage.
Here are some tables of areas under the normal curve from its left end to the given
Z-score. To use these tables, look for the first digits of the given Z-score in the first
column of the appropriate table, then look for the succeeding digits after the decimal
point in the first row.

The intersection of the columns and rows that contain the digits of the Z-score is
the cell that has the total area from the left end of the normal curve to the given Z-score.
Note that this is also the cumulative frequency of the standard normal distribution at
that Z-score.

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5
 These tables are very useful when solving for probabilities involving standard
normal distributions.

How to interpret these tables?

Example 1: To interpret these tables, let us take Z=-1.23 as an example.

A Z-score of –1.23 corresponds to a value of 0.1093.

This means that the area to the left of Z=–1.23 is equal to 0.1093 or 10.93% of the
total area.

Example 2: What is the area under the curve of a Z-score of 1.35 ?

So, looking at the table of Z-scores, the area of 1.35 is 0.9115 or 91.15% of the
total area.

Example 3: Find the area under the normal curve between Z-scores of -1.51 and
1.51.

Solution: We need to get the area between the lower limit and the upper limit.

a. Using the table, the area of Z-score -1.51 is 0.0655 or 6.55%.

b. The area of Z-score 1.51 is 0.9345 or 93.45%.
To get the covered by the given limits, we need to subtract the upper area limit by the
lower area limit.

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Thus, the area between Z-score of -1.51 and 1.51 is equal to 93.45%-6.55%=86.9%

A distribution has a mean of 40 and a standard deviation of 5. Sixty-eight percent

of the distribution can be found between what two numbers?

Solution: Recall that 68% of the distribution is from one standard

deviation to the left of the mean and one standard deviation to the right.
Since one standard deviation is 5, it means that the area is between 45
and 45.

CONVERTS A NORMAL RANDOM VARIABLE TO A STANDARD NORMAL VARIABLE

AND VICE VERSA

Standard Normal Distribution as a normal distribution with a mean of 0 and a

standard deviation of 1, or N (0, 1). If X ~N (µ, σ), then the random Z variable is
standardized when

Well, X is the given raw score, µ is the population mean, and σ is the population
standard deviation. In this case, we can say that Z~N (0, 1).

Once X is standardized, we can calculate the probabilities of random variables

involving different means and standard deviations. Z gives us the number of standard
deviations a variable X is away from the mean of the distribution.

Example 1: What is the Z-score of 40 in a math test when the mean is 58 with a
standard deviation of 9?

Solution: Substitute the given data in the formula.

So, the Z-score of 40 is -2.

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Example 2: The Z-score of a certain student in a physics test was found to be -1.5. The
test has a mean score of 86 with a standard deviation of 12. What was the student’s
actual test score in physics?

Solution: Since the actual score is missing. It means that we need to

solve for X.
Substituting the given values into the formula and
then simplifying it will give us the required score.
X µ
==
86X
1.5 =
12
X 86
(12) 1.5 = (12)
12
18 = X 86
𝑋 = 86 + 18
𝑋 = 104

Therefore, the student’s score on the test was 104.

Below are the scores of a group of 10 students in a 50-item mathematics test.

46, 38, 42, 47, 35, 30, 42, 43, 45, 43

Example 3: Find the Z-score of each score.

Solution: To find the Z-score, we must find first the average and the standard
deviation of the group.
To find the average score, add all the scores and divide the sum by 10.
Thus, we have
46 + 38 + 42 + 47 + 35 + 30 + 42 + 43 + 45 + 43
µ=
10

µ = 41.1 ≈ 41
To find the standard deviation, use the following formula:
∑ (X µ) ²
𝜎=
N

where
σ=standard deviation
X=individual score
µ=mean

Calculating the standard deviation of the given scores, we have

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 𝜎

𝜎≈
Finally, to find the Z-score of each score in the test, we will use the formula

a. Z-score of 46:

The same formula for Z-scores will be used to find the corresponding Z -score for the
remaining test scores.
a. Z-score of 38 is -0.6 e. Z-score of 30 is -2.2
b. Z-score of 42 is 0.2 f. Z-score of 43 is 0.4
c. Z-score of 47 is 1.2 g. Z-score of 45 is 0.8
d. Z-score of 35 is -1.2

COMPUTES PROBABILITIES AND PERCENTILES USING THE

STANDARD NORMAL TABLE

Using percentiles, we can understand how the standardized normal distribution works.
The following mathematical notations will be used in various solutions with regards to
the normal curve.
 P(Z ≤ k)=F(k)
Look at the Z-score table for the corresponding value of k.
 P(Z ≥ k)=1–F(k)
The probability can be obtained by subtracting the corresponding value of k from
1.
 P(m ≤ Z ≤ k)=F(k)-F(m)
Subtract the corresponding value m of from the corresponding value of k.
Example 1: X is a normally distributed variable with a mean of 20 and a standard
deviation of 5. Find the P(X≤27)?

So, the P(X≤27) is 0.9192.

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 Find P(X ≥ 18) and P(12≤X ≤ 29) in Example 1

Therefore, P(12≤X≤29) = 0.9093.

X is a normally distributed variable with mean µ=30 and standard deviation σ=4.
Find the values of the following probabilities.

a. P(X≤35)
b. P(X≥25)
c. P(20≤X≤40)

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 What’s More

Directions: Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. A group of Grade 11 students took a test in Mathematics and the final grades have
a mean of 70 and a standard deviation of 10. If we can approximate the distribution
of these grades by a normal distribution, what percent of the total number of
students scored higher than 80?

a. 84.13% or 15.87%.
b. 85.13% or 16.87%.
c. 86.13% or 17.87%.
d. 87.13% or 18.87%.
2. Suppose a student’s grade in his final examination in math is 86 out of 100, and
the mean grade of the whole class is 75 with a standard deviation of 7. On the
other hand, his grade in English final exam is 65 out of 80, and the mean grade of
the whole class is 60 with a standard deviation of 5. In which exam did he do
better?

a. Math b. English c. Both Math & English d. Science

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 3. Professor Fontanilla is grading a test. The students’ results, out of 100 points, are
listed as follows: 35, 40, 36, 24, 54, 22, 45, 41, 23, 47. Most students did not get
as much as 50 out of 100, and everyone will fail if the scores will be left as is. The
test must have been difficult for the students, so Professor Fontanilla decided to
standardize all the scores and fail only those students whose scores are one
standard deviation below the mean. Find the number of students who failed in
the said examination.
a. Two students failed in the examination
b. Three students failed in the examination
c. Four students failed in the examination
d. Five students failed in the examination

4. Final exams are typically approximately normally distributed with a mean of 70

and a standard deviation of 15. Your teacher says that the top 10% of the class
will receive a grade of 95; the next 20%, 90; the next 35%, 88; the next 30%, 85;
and the bottom 5%, 80. What average must you exceed to obtain 95?
a. to obtain a grade of 95, you must exceed a score of 87.2.
b. to obtain a grade of 95, you must exceed a score of 88.2.
c. to obtain a grade of 95, you must exceed a score of 89.2.
d. to obtain a grade of 95, you must exceed a score of 90.2.

5. What average must you exceed to receive a grade better than 85?
a. to get a grade better than 85, you need to exceed a score of 57.8.
b. to get a grade better than 85, you need to exceed a score of 67.8.
c. to get a grade better than 85, you need to exceed a score of 77.8.
d. to get a grade better than 85, you need to exceed a score of 87.8.

What I Have Learned

Standard Normal Distribution as a normal distribution with a mean of 0 and a
standard deviation of 1, or N (0, 1). If X ~N (µ, σ), then the random Z variable is
standardized when

X is the given raw score, µ is the population mean, and σ is the population standard
deviation. In this case, we can say that Z~N (0, 1).

Once X is standardized, we can calculate the probabilities of random variables

involving different means and standard deviations. Z gives us the number of standard
deviations a variable X is away from the mean of the distribution.

12
Using percentiles, we can understand how the standardized normal distribution works.
The following mathematical notations will be used in various solutions with regards to
the normal curve.
 P(Z ≤ k)=F(k)
Look at the Z-score table for the corresponding value of k.
 P(Z ≥ k)=1–F(k)
The probability can be obtained by subtracting the corresponding value of k from
1.
 P(m ≤ Z ≤ k)=F(k)-F(m)
Subtract the corresponding value m of from the corresponding value of k.

What I Can Do
Activity 3: Find Me!

1. Find the area under the normal curve between Z-scores of –2.06 and 1.91.

2. Find the Z-score of with a mean of 47 and a standard deviation of 8.

Assessment
Directions: Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. What is the mean of the following scores ( ) ?

a. 25 b. 30 c. 35 d. 40
2. What is the area under the curve of a Z-score of –1.54?
a. 0.0668 b. 0.0559 c. 0.0618 d. 0.0582
3. What is the value of 88% when you convert it to decimal?
a. 0.088 b. 0.88 c. 0.0088 d. 0.0880
4. A distribution has a mean of 70 and a standard deviation of 8. Ninety-five percent
of the distribution can be found between what two numbers?
a. 54 and 86 b. 55 and 87 c. 56 and 88 d. 57 and 89
5. Mr. Gonzales analyzed the result of his midterm examination and found out that
the normal distribution of test scores has a mean of 38 score and a standard
deviation of 6. What percent of the students has a score between 30 and 45?
a. 0.7870 b. 0.7871 c. 0.7872 d. 0.7873
6. Find the student’s score in a biology test when the Z-score is 0.98. The mean of
the test was 88 with a standard deviation of 9.5.
a. 95 b. 96 c. 97 d. 98
7. Find the Z-score of 89 in a population of scores: 85, 91, 90, 88, 84, 83, 92, 87, 86
and 89.
a. 2.86 b. 2.87 c. 2.88 d. 2.89

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 8. A set of Mathematics exam scores has a mean of 68 and a standard deviation of 8.
A set of English exam scores has a mean of 75 and a standard deviation of 10.
For which exam would a score of 78 have a higher standing?
a. Math b. English c. both Math & English

9. X is a normally distributed variable with a mean of 65 and a standard deviation of

8. Find the P(X ≤ 59).
a. 0.2260 b. 0.2262 c. 0.2264 d. 0.2266

10. X is a normally distributed variable with a mean of 50 and a standard

deviation of 8. Find the P(X ≥ 60) and P(30≤ X ≤ 70).
a. 0.9520 b. 0.9522 c. 0.9524 d. 0.9526

Additional Activities
You are tasked by the Mathematics Head to get all the raw scores of Grade 11 in
the Third Periodic Exam. Assume a role of a statistician and get the top of the group to
be given an incentive. You will get the mean of the group as well as the standard
deviation. You need to write a report listing the names of the students included in the
top to be given the incentive and submit to the head not later than a week after the date
of assignment.

Performance Task Rubric

Criteria Below Needs Successful Exemplary

Expectation Improvement Performance Performance
(0–49%) (50–74%) (75–99%) (99+%)

Completeness Gathered less Gathered 80- Gathered 90- Gathered

of data than 80% of 89% of the 99% of the 100% of the
gathered the results of results of results of results of
Gathered Grade 11 all Grade 11 all Grade 11 all Grade 11 all
Third Third Third Third
Quarterly Quarterly Test Quarterly Test in Quarterly
Test in Math. in Math. Math Test in Math.
Accuracy of The formula There are two There is one All formulas
formula and and the computations computation and
computation computations for mean, for mean, computations
were standard standard for mean,
incorrect deviation or deviation or standard
percentile percentile deviation and
which are which is percentile are
incorrect. incorrect. correct.
Submission The proposal The proposal The proposal The proposal
of is submitted is submitted is submitted is submitted on
report more than 4 3-4 days late. 1-2 days late. time.
days late.

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References

Quipper Video
Math is Fun. “Standard Normal Distribution”. Accessed September 16, 2018.
https://www.mathsisfun.com/data/standard-normal-distribution.html
OUP. “The Normal Distribution”. Accessed September 17, 2018.

https://www.oup.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/58278/Insight_Maths_General_
12_HSC_2_ch6_Normal_distribution.pdf

Development Team
Writer: Jenevic E. Camaño
Tambanan National High School
Editor/QA:
Ivy V. Deiparine
Pede I. Casing
Danniel M. Manlang

Reviewer: Gina I. Lihao

EPS in Mathematics

Illustrator:
Layout Artist:
Management Team:
Evelyn F. Importante
OIC-CID Chief EPS

Dr. Jerry C. Bokingkito

OIC-Assitant Schools Division Superintendent

Dr. Aurilio A. Santisas, CESE

OIC-Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

Dr. Jeanelyn A. Aleman, CESO VI

OIC-Schools Division Superintendent

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