STANDARD

SCORES
Review

5 cases on how to find

the area under the
normal curve.
Why use standard score or z-score
Raw scores may be composed of large
values, but large values cannot be
accommodated at the base line of the
normal curve. So, they have to be
transformed into scores for
convenience without sacrificing
meanings associated with the raw
scores.
Why use standard score or z-score
If you wish to find the proportion of
area, percentage or probability
associated with a raw score, you must
find its matched z-value using the
z-score formula. Then, the z-value leads
to the area under the normal curve
found in the z-table, which is a
probability or the desired percentage.
Z-score or standard score
measures how many standard
deviation a given value (x) is
above or below the mean.
Z-scores are useful in
comparing observed values. If
a z-score is equal to 0, it is on
the mean.
A positive z-score indicates that the
score or observed value is above the
mean, whereas a negative z-score
indicates that the score or observed
value is below the mean.
For example, if a z-score is equal to 1, it
is 1 standard deviation above the mean.
If a z-score is equal to −2, it is 2
standard deviations below the mean.
The areas under the normal curve
are given in terms of z-scores. Either
it locates x within a sample or within
a population.
Example 1:
Locate the z-value that corresponds to
Mathematics test score of 55 given the mean,
𝜇 =50 and the standard deviation, 𝜎 = 2.
1. Choose the formula to
use. (Use the z-score
formula for population
data as indicated in
the problem.)
Example 1:
Locate the z-value that corresponds to
Mathematics test score of 55 given the mean,
𝜇 =50 and the standard deviation, 𝜎 = 2.
2. Write the given
values.
Example 1:
Locate the z-value that corresponds to
Mathematics test score of 55 given the mean,
𝜇 =50 and the standard deviation, 𝜎 = 2.
3. Substitute the given
values in the computing
formula. Then, compute
the z-value.
Thus, the z-value that corresponds
to the raw score 55 is 2.5 in a
population distribution.
This means the score 55 is 2.5
standard deviations above the
mean.
Example 2:
On the midterm examination in Statistics, the
sample mean was 80 and the sample standard
deviation was 7. Determine the standard score
of a student who got a score of 75 assuming
that the scores are normally distributed.
1. Choose the formula to
use. (Use the z-score
formula for population
data as indicated in
the problem.)
Example 2:
On the midterm examination in Statistics, the
sample mean was 80 and the sample standard
deviation was 7. Determine the standard score
of a student who got a score of 75 assuming
that the scores are normally distributed.
2. Write the given
values.
Example 2:
On the midterm examination in Statistics, the
sample mean was 80 and the sample standard
deviation was 7. Determine the standard score
of a student who got a score of 75 assuming
that the scores are normally distributed.
3. Substitute the given
values in the computing
formula. Then, compute
the z-value.
Thus, the z-value that corresponds
to the raw score 75 is −0.71 in a
sample distribution.
This means the score 75 is 0.71
standard deviations below the mean
Example 3:
Liza scored 90 in a Mathematics test and
70 in an English test. Scores in the
Mathematics test have a mean 𝜇 = 80 and a
standard deviation
𝜎 =10. Scores in the English test have a
mean
𝜇 = 60 and a standard deviation 𝜎 = 8.
In which subject was her standing better,
assuming that the scores in her
Mathematics and English class are
normally distributed?
1. Choose the formula to
use. (Use the z-score
formula for population
data as indicated in
the problem.)

2. Write the given

values.
3. Substitute the given
values in the computing
formula. Then, compute
the z-value.
The z-value that corresponds to Liza’s
Mathematics raw score of 90 is 1 in a
population distribution.
This means the score 90 is 1 standard
deviation above the mean.
Meanwhile, the z-value that corresponds
to her English score of 70 is 1.25.
This means that 70 is 1.25 standard
deviations above the mean. Thus, Liza has
a better standing in English compared to
Mathematics.
DETERMINING
PROBABILITIES
Finding the area of a region under
the normal curve is the same as
finding the probability associated
with that region. Thus, the area
under the normal curve denotes
probability. Hence, we could the find
probability between two z-values by
simply calculating the required area.
Probability Notations
Study the following notations for a
random variable used in various
solutions concerning the normal curve.
These notations are used in
representing probabilities.
Mathematical notations are convenient
form of lengthy expressions.
Probability Notations
Let a and b be z-score values:

𝑃(𝑎 < 𝑧 < 𝑏) denotes the probability that

the z-score is between a and b.

It is read as “the probability that the

z-score falls between 𝑧 = 𝑎 and 𝑧 = 𝑏.”
Probability Notations
Let a and b be z-score values:

𝑃(𝑧 > 𝑎)denotes the probability that the

z-score is greater than a.

It is read as “the probability that the

z-score is greater than a.”
Probability Notations
Let a and b be z-score values:

𝑃(𝑧 < 𝑎)denotes the probability that the

z-score is less than a.

It is read as “the probability that the

z-score is less than a.”
Recall each case in identifying
regions under the curve and the
steps on determining the area under
the normal curve
Example 1: Find the probability that the
z-score is less than 𝑧 = −1.78.
1. Draw the normal
curve and locate the
given z-value or values
at the base line of the
curve. Then, draw a
vertical line through the
given z-value or values
and shade the required
region.
Example 1: Find the probability that the
z-score is less than 𝑧 = −1.78.

2. Use the z-table to Z = −1.78 corresponds to an area of

find the areas
that correspond to the
0.4625
given z-value or values.
Example 1: Find the probability that the
z-score is less than 𝑧 = −1.78.

3. Perform appropriate The graph suggests subtraction.

operations to get the
required area, if
0.5 − 0.4625 = 0.0375
needed.
That is, 𝑷(𝒛 < −1.78) = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟑𝟕𝟓.
Example 1: Find the probability that the
z-score is less than 𝑧 = −1.78.

4. Write the required Thus, the probability that the z-score

area (or probability)
is less than 𝑧 − 1.78 is 0.0375
Example 2: Find the probability that
the z-score is at most 𝑧 = 0.91
1. Draw the normal
curve and locate the
given z-value or values
at the base line of the
curve. Then, draw a
vertical line through the
given z-value or values
and shade the required
region.
Example 2: Find the probability that
the z-score is at most 𝑧 = 0.91

2. Use the z-table to z = 0.91 corresponds to an area of

find the areas
that correspond to the
0.3186
given z-value or values.
Example 2: Find the probability that
the z-score is at most 𝑧 = 0.91

3. Perform appropriate The graph suggests subtraction.

operations to get the
required area, if
0.3186 + 0.5 = 0.8186
needed.
That is, 𝑷(𝒛 < 0.91) = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟏𝟖𝟔.
Example 2: Find the probability that
the z-score is at most 𝑧 = 0.91

4. Write the required Thus, the probability that the z-score

area (or probability)
is at
most𝑧 − 1.78 is 0.8186.
Let’s extend your learning by
applying the concept to a word
problem. Letter a is already done for
you. Solve letters b and c.
In a Science test, the mean score is 42 and
the standard deviation is 5. Assuming
the scores are normally distributed, what is
the probability that the score is:

a. greater than 48?

b. less than 50?
c. between 30 and 48?
 COMPUTING
PERCENTILES UNDER
THE NORMAL CURVE
Often the units for raw test scores are
not informative. You might know that
you scored 76 out of 100 on a test but
it doesn’t give you much information of
what your score means. Scores are
more meaningful if percentile rank is
given.

What do you mean by a percentile? If

your teacher told you that your score in
test is in the 90th percentile. What
does it mean?
What is a percentile?
Percentile is a measure of relative standing.
It is the percent of cases that are at or
below a score. It tells you how a value
compares to other values.
If your teacher tells you that you scored
90th percentile, it means that 90% of the
grades were lower than yours and 10%
were higher.
What is a percentile?
In the previous lesson, you learned on
how to find the area or probability under
the normal curve given a z-value.
Suppose, you know the area or
probability this time, how would you find
the corresponding z-score?
What is a percentile?
When you are given with the area or
probability and you want to know the
corresponding z-score, locate the area
at the body of the table.
If the exact area is not available, take
the nearest area. Then, look up the
corresponding z-value.
Example 1: Find the 90th percentile of
a normal curve.
Finding 90th percentile means locating
an area below the point. To begin, find
the z-value located at this point.
 th
Example 1: Find the 90 percentile of a
normal curve.
Solution:
Express the 90th percentile to decimal so that
you can easily find it in the z-table, that is,
0.9000.
We know that 0.9000 occupies more than half
of the curve.
This occupies all the area below the mean
which is 0.5 or 0.5000. This left us with an area
of 0.4000 above the mean
(0.9000-0.5000=0.4000).
Example 1: Find the 90th percentile of
a normal curve.
Solution:
Then, locate the z-value corresponding to
the area 0.4000.
The z-value corresponding to the area
0.4000 is not available, so take the nearest
area.
The nearest area is 0.3997 which
correspond to z = 1.28. So, the 90th
percentile is z=1.28.
Example 1: Find the 90th percentile of
a normal curve.
Solution:
To illustrate, draw the normal
curve.
Draw a line through 𝑧 = 1.28
and shade the region below it.
The shaded region is 90% of
the distribution.
 th
Example 2: Find the 95 percentile of a
normal curve.
Finding 95th percentile means locating
an area below the point. To begin, find
the z-value located at this point.
 th
Example 2: Find the 95 percentile of a
normal curve.
Solution:
Express the 95th percentile to decimal so that
you can easily find it in the z-table, that is,
0.9500.
We know that 0.9500 occupies more than half
of the curve.
This occupies all the area below the mean
which is 0.5 or 0.5000. This left us with an area
of 0.4500 above the mean
(0.9500-0.5000=0.4500).
 th
Example 2: Find the 95 percentile of a
normal curve.
Solution:
Then, locate the z-value corresponding to the area
0.4500.
The z-value corresponding to the area 0.4500 is not
available, so take the nearest area. The nearest areas are
0.4495 and 0.4505.
Find the z-value corresponding to 0.4495 and 0.4505.
These are z=1.64 and z=1.65.We get the average of the
two z-values: 𝑧 = (1.64+1.65)/ 2 = 𝟏. 𝟔𝟒𝟓.
th
 th
Example 2: Find the 95 percentile of
a normal curve.
Solution:
To illustrate, draw the normal
curve.
Draw a line through 𝑧 = 1.645
and shade the region below
it.
The shaded region is 95% of
the distribution.
Example 3: Find the upper 2% of the
normal curve.
.Finding the upper 2% of the normal
curve means locating an area above the
point. To begin, find the z-value located
at this point.
Example 3: Find the upper 2% of the
normal curve.
.Express the given percent to decimal so
that you can easily find it in the z-table, that
is, 0.0200.
The upper 5% or 0.0500 means to the
right of a z-value above the mean.
Find the remaining area, using the upper
side of the mean
(0.5000-0.0200=0.4800).
Example 3: Find the upper 2% of the
normal curve.
.Then, locate the z-value corresponding to
the area 0.4800.
The z-value corresponding to the area
0.4800 is not available, so take the nearest
area.
The nearest area is 0.4798 which
corresponds to 𝑧=2.05. Thus, the upper 2%
is above 𝒛=𝟐.𝟎𝟓.
Example 3: Find the upper 2% of the
normal curve.
.To illustrate, draw the
appropriate normal
curve. Draw a line
through 𝑧=2.05 and
shade the region
above it. The shaded
region is 2% of the
distribution.
.Solvingthe problems does not follow a
uniform procedure. You have to analyze
the problem carefully and apply what
you have learned about the concepts
involving normal curve.