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NORMDIST
Returns the normal distribution for the specified mean and standard deviation. This function has a very wide range of applications in statistics, including hypothesis testing.
Syntax
NORMDIST(x,mean,standard_dev,cumulative)
X is the value for which you want the distribution.
Mean is the arithmetic mean of the distribution.
Standard_dev is the standard deviation of the distribution.
Cumulative is a logical value that determines the form of the function. If cumulative is TRUE, NORMDIST returns the cumulative distribution function; if FALSE, it returns the probability mass function.
Remarks
- If mean or standard_dev is nonnumeric, NORMDIST returns the #VALUE! error value.
- If standard_dev ≤ 0, NORMDIST returns the #NUM! error value.
- If mean = 0, standard_dev = 1, and cumulative = TRUE, NORMDIST returns the standard normal distribution, NORMSDIST.
- The equation for the normal density function (cumulative = FALSE) is:
- When cumulative = TRUE, the formula is the integral from negative infinity to x of the given formula.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank spreadsheet.
How?
- Create a blank spreadsheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the spreadsheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the formula that returns the result and the result in the cell, select the cell and press F2 and then ENTER, or click Commands and Options on the spreadsheet toolbar, click the Formula tab, and look in the Formula in active cell (active cell) box.
| Data | Description |
|---|---|
| 42 | Value for which you want the distribution |
| 40 | Arithmetic mean of the distribution |
| 1.5 | Standard deviation of the distribution |
| Formula | Description (Result) |
| =NORMDIST(A2,A3,A4,TRUE) | Cumulative distribution function for the terms above (0.908789) |
| =NORMDIST(A2,A3,A4,FALSE) | Probability mass function for the terms above (0.10934005) |