Normal probability plots graph standardized normal cumulative probabilities against data values to assess whether a data set follows a normal distribution. The points should fall approximately along a straight line for the distribution to be considered normal. An example shows effective battery life times graphed in a normal probability plot, with the points forming a straight line indicating the data is normally distributed. Variations from a straight line can reveal non-normal distributions that are light-tailed, heavy-tailed, or right-skewed.
Normal probability plots graph standardized normal cumulative probabilities against data values to assess whether a data set follows a normal distribution. The points should fall approximately along a straight line for the distribution to be considered normal. An example shows effective battery life times graphed in a normal probability plot, with the points forming a straight line indicating the data is normally distributed. Variations from a straight line can reveal non-normal distributions that are light-tailed, heavy-tailed, or right-skewed.
Normal probability plots graph standardized normal cumulative probabilities against data values to assess whether a data set follows a normal distribution. The points should fall approximately along a straight line for the distribution to be considered normal. An example shows effective battery life times graphed in a normal probability plot, with the points forming a straight line indicating the data is normally distributed. Variations from a straight line can reveal non-normal distributions that are light-tailed, heavy-tailed, or right-skewed.
Normal probability plots graph standardized normal cumulative probabilities against data values to assess whether a data set follows a normal distribution. The points should fall approximately along a straight line for the distribution to be considered normal. An example shows effective battery life times graphed in a normal probability plot, with the points forming a straight line indicating the data is normally distributed. Variations from a straight line can reveal non-normal distributions that are light-tailed, heavy-tailed, or right-skewed.
Example of a normal probability plot graph paper (www.weibull.com)
Using cumulative probability areas for standardized normal distribution and plotting in the normal probability plot paper, we confirm normal distribution of values. Z Cummulative probability Cummulative % Cummulative % vs. Z values -3.0 0.00135 0.135 120 -2.5 0.00621 0.621 -2.0 0.02275 2.275 100 -1.5 0.066807 6.6807 80 -1.0 0.137857 13.7857 -0.5 0.308538 30.8538 60 0.0 0.5 50 40 0.5 0.691462 69.1462 1.0 0.841345 84.1345 20 1.5 0.933193 93.3193 0 2.0 0.97725 97.725 -4.0 -2.0 0.0 2.0 4.0 2.5 0.99379 99.379 Cumulative % 3.0 0.99865 99.865 Example 6.7 of normal probability plot using battery life service time (minutes):
Effective service life of batteries, minutes
176 191 214 220 205 192 201 190 183 185
Similar to textbook’s Figure 6-19. Normal probability plot generated by Minitab:
Battery life data is approximately normally distributed.
Probability Plot Variations
Figure 6-21 Normal probability plots indicating a non-normal distribution.
(a) Light tailed distribution (b) Heavy tailed distribution (c) Right skewed distribution
Material in this page obtained from Chapter 6 of Montgomery, Douglas C. and George C. Runger, Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, 4th ed., John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey, 2007.
