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Statistical function

NORM.DIST

Returns the normal distribution for a value.

OccasionalDifficulty 1400 · AdvancedUsage rank #216 of 520
Practice · 3 questions →

When to use it

The normal distribution with any mean and standard deviation. Cumulative TRUE returns the probability of a value at or below x; FALSE returns the height of the bell curve at x.

The shape of it

Syntax
=NORM.DIST(x, mean, standard_dev, cumulative)

Worked examples

  • Standard normal

    =NORM.DIST(1.96,0,1,TRUE) → 0.975002105

    97.5% of a standard normal lies below 1.96.

  • Mean 100, sd 15

    =NORM.DIST(110,100,15,TRUE) → 0.747507462

    The share of IQ scores at or below 110.

  • Density

    =NORM.DIST(0,0,1,FALSE) → 0.39894228

    The peak height of the standard bell curve.

Worth knowing

  • Probability between two values: NORM.DIST(b,...,TRUE) - NORM.DIST(a,...,TRUE).
  • Safety stock: NORM.INV(service level, mean demand, sd) is the reverse question.
  • Use FALSE only when you want the curve height for a chart.

Where it goes wrong

  • #NUM! when standard_dev is 0 or negative.
  • Forgetting the cumulative flag returns a density, which is not a probability.

Related

AVERAGECOUNTCOUNTACOUNTIFCOUNTIFSMAX

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