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Just How Normal Are You?

Estimated Time: 90 minutes

Lesson Objectives:

  • The students will use the mean and standard deviation of a data set to fit the data to a normal distribution.
  • The students will use the normal distribution to estimate percentages.
  • The students will determine if a data set represents a normal distribution.

Resources for this lesson:

Before you begin, download your Algebra II Journal opens in new window for Just How Normal Are You? You will be completing activities in the journal throughout this lesson.

Visit this section on each page to access information about key terms and other resources to help facilitate the lesson.

> Glossary opens in new window
> Calculator Resources opens in new window
> Teacher Resources: Instructional Notes opens in new window

Key Common Core State Standards:

S.ID.4: Use the mean and standard deviation of a data set to fit it to a normal distribution and to estimate population percentages. Recognize that there are data sets for which such a procedure is not appropriate. Use calculators, spreadsheets, and tables to estimate areas under the normal curve.

Supporting Common Core State Standards:

N/A

Standards for Mathematical Practices:

1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
4. Model with mathematics.
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
6. Attend to precision.
7. Look for and make use of structure.
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

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