Which of the following statements are TRUE about the Normal Distribution? Check all that apply. O Data values farther from the mean are less common than data values closer to the mean. O The distribution is symmetric with a single peak. O The graph of the Normal Distribution is bell-shaped, with tapering tails that never actually touch the horizontal axis. O The mean, median and mode are all equal and occur at the center of the distribution. O About 95% of all data values lie within 1 standard deviation of the mean. O 50% of the data values lie at or above the mean. O Data values are spread evenly around the mean.
Continuous Probability Distributions
Probability distributions are of two types, which are continuous probability distributions and discrete probability distributions. A continuous probability distribution contains an infinite number of values. For example, if time is infinite: you could count from 0 to a trillion seconds, billion seconds, so on indefinitely. A discrete probability distribution consists of only a countable set of possible values.
Normal Distribution
Suppose we had to design a bathroom weighing scale, how would we decide what should be the range of the weighing machine? Would we take the highest recorded human weight in history and use that as the upper limit for our weighing scale? This may not be a great idea as the sensitivity of the scale would get reduced if the range is too large. At the same time, if we keep the upper limit too low, it may not be usable for a large percentage of the population!
![**Understanding Normal Distribution: Key Characteristics**
When studying statistics, particularly the concept of normal distribution, there are certain fundamental aspects to recognize. This multiple-choice question intends to test knowledge about these essential characteristics. Several statements regarding the normal distribution are presented, and the goal is to identify which of them are accurate. Below are the statements and an explanation of each for a thorough understanding.
1. **Data values farther from the mean are less common than data values closer to the mean.**
- True. In a normal distribution, data points cluster around the mean, diminishing in frequency as they move further away from it.
2. **The distribution is symmetric with a single peak.**
- True. The normal distribution is characterized by its symmetric bell curve, with one central peak corresponding to the mean, median, and mode.
3. **The graph of the Normal Distribution is bell-shaped, with tapering tails that never actually touch the horizontal axis.**
- True. This characteristic describes the "tails" of the distribution, which extend infinitely in both directions, getting closer but never touching the horizontal axis.
4. **The mean, median, and mode are all equal and occur at the center of the distribution.**
- True. For a perfectly normal distribution, these three measures of central tendency are identical and located at the midpoint of the distribution.
5. **About 95% of all data values lie within 1 standard deviation of the mean.**
- False. Approximately 95% of data values in a normal distribution fall within 2 standard deviations of the mean, not 1. Within 1 standard deviation, around 68% of data values are observed.
6. **50% of the data values lie at or above the mean.**
- True. Due to the symmetry of the normal distribution, half of the data values will be at or above the mean, while the other half will be at or below it.
7. **Data values are spread evenly around the mean.**
- True. The even spread around the mean aligns with the definition of symmetry in a normal distribution.
**In summary:**
For a normal distribution:
- Frequencies of values decrease as they move away from the mean.
- The distribution is symmetric and bell-shaped.
- Mean, median, and mode coincide at the center.
- About 68% fall within 1 standard deviation, and approximately 95% fall within 2 standard deviations of the mean.
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