normal distribution

noun, Statistics.

a theoretical frequency distribution represented by a normal curve.

Also called Gaussian distribution.

Origin

1895-1900

Examples from the web for normal distribution

Innovations to this process are drawn randomly each period from a normal distribution.
But he had problems fitting people's heights and weights in a population into such a normal distribution.
Kurtosis is a measure of whether the data are peaked or flat relative to a normal distribution.
In all cases, the chi-square test was applied to test for a normal distribution.
The normal distribution is widely used to model uncertain variables such as population characteristics.
The normal distribution appears to be a good model for these data.
The normal distribution is not a good model for these data.
Standard control charts for continuous measurements, for instance, require that the data come from a normal distribution.
The following is the plot of the normal distribution hazard function.

British Dictionary definitions for normal distribution

normal distribution

noun

(statistics) a continuous distribution of a random variable with its mean, median, and mode equal, the probability density function of which is given by (exp-[(x–μ)²/2σ²]/σ√(2π)) where μ is the mean and σ² the variance Also called Gaussian distribution

normal distribution in Science

normal distribution

(nôr'məl)
A theoretical frequency distribution for a set of variable data, usually represented by a bell-shaped curve symmetrical about the mean.

normal distribution in Technology

statistics
(Or "Gaussian distribution") The frequency distribution of many natural phenomena such as the height or intelligence of people of a certain age and sex. The formula looks something like:
P(x) = e^(((x-m)/s)^2)
where P(x) is the probability of a measurement x, m is the mean value of x and s is the standard deviation.
Also known as a "bell curve" because of its shape.
(2003-10-25)