Normal Distribution
Transformations and Asymmetric Distributions
🔧 Transformations on a Normal Distribution
What happens when we add, subtract, multiply, or divide all values in the distribution?
➕ Adding or Subtracting a Constant
| Parameter | What happens? |
|---|---|
| Mean | Changes (increases/decreases by k) |
| Standard deviation | Unchanged! |
| Bell shape | Stays the same (only shifts) |
✏️ Example: All employees receive a ₪1,000 bonus
- The mean increases by ₪1,000
- The standard deviation remains unchanged
✖️ Multiplying or Dividing by a Constant
| Parameter | What happens? |
|---|---|
| Mean | Multiplied/divided by k |
| Standard deviation | Multiplied/divided by k! |
| Bell shape | Changes (wider/narrower) |
✏️ Example: All employees get a 10% raise (multiply by 1.1)
- The mean is multiplied by 1.1
- The standard deviation is multiplied by 1.1
💡 Why does the height change?
The total area must remain 100%. If the width increases, the height must decrease!
📋 Transformation Summary
| Operation | Mean | Standard deviation |
|---|---|---|
| +k | +k | Unchanged |
| -k | -k | Unchanged |
| ×k | ×k | ×k |
| ÷k | ÷k | ÷k |
📊 Asymmetric Distributions
Not every distribution is normal! In an asymmetric distribution the mean, median, and mode are not at the same point.
Right-skewed distribution
mode < median < mean
Left-skewed distribution
mean < median < mode
💡 Rule of thumb: The mean is "pulled" toward the tail!
Right tail → mean > median
Left tail → mean < median
📍 Location of Central Tendency Measures
1️⃣ Mode – always at the highest point
2️⃣ Median – divides the area 50%-50%
3️⃣ Mean – "pulled" toward extreme values
✏️ Example: Salary distribution with median ₪8,500
If the distribution is right-skewed (due to managers with high salaries):
- The mode will be below ₪8,500
- The mean will be above ₪8,500
⚖️ Comparing Distributions
| Property | Normal Distribution | Asymmetric distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Symmetric bell | Tail to one side |
| Central tendency | Mean = median = mode | Different from each other |
| Z-table | Can be used | Cannot be used |
📝 Summary
Addition/subtraction → only mean changes
Multiplication/division → mean and SD both change
In asymmetric distributions: mean is pulled toward the tail