Step by step
The question
Question: the numbers are normal, with mean 50 and SD 5: what percent is between 45 and 55?
Normal means the numbers make a bell shape, the same on both sides of the mean.
1 Draw the bell
The mean, 50, is in the middle.
Each mark is one SD, 5, further: 50 plus 5 is 55, then 60, then 65.
And going down: 45, 40, 35.
2 The 68-95-99.7 rule
The rule: 68 percent are within 1 SD of the mean.
95 percent within 2 SDs.
99.7 percent within 3 SDs.
Split into pieces, half on each side.
68 divided by 2 is 34.
95 minus 68 is 27, half is 13.5.
99.7 minus 95 is 4.7, half is 2.35.
And 0.15 at each end.
We write each piece on the curve.
3 Shade the part
45 is 1 SD below the mean.
55 is 1 SD above the mean.
We shade between them.
Careful!
The rule already counts both sides of the mean together.
4 Add the pieces
We add the shaded pieces: 34 plus 34 is 68%.
5 Check
Let's check: the pieces not shaded add up to 32 percent.
68 plus 32 is 100 percent: the whole bell.
So it is right!
Let's look back.
First: draw the bell.
Then: the 68-95-99.7 rule.
Then: shade the part.
Then: add the pieces.
Last: check.