How to Create a Normal Distribution with Excel

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Understand Normal Distributions.

   In the real world the values of many random variables
   -for example, the heights of adult males in the United States- are normally distributed.
   
   That is, the bulk of the values are around the mean of the distribution.
2. 2

   Step 2: Know the 68 95 99.7 Rule.

   A normal distribution is a continuous probability distribution in which 68% of the values are within one standard deviation of the mean, 95% are within two standard deviations, and
   99.7% are within three standard deviations. , In Excel, the NORM.INV function returns a normally distributed value given a probability, a mean, and a standard deviation.
   
   NORM refers to a normal distribution with a given mean and a given standard deviation. and INV refers to inverse, that is, finding a value given a probability, rather than finding a probability given a value. , The RAND() function returns a random number between zero and one. , Combining the two above-referenced functions returns a normally distributed random value with a given mean and a given standard deviation. , To create a random sample of a normal distribution with a mean of 70 and a standard distribution of 3, enter the above-referenced combined function in cell A1. , To create a sample of size 10, copy cell A1 to cells A2 to A10. , Excel displays the random sample of a normal distribution with a mean of 70 and a standard deviation of
   3.
3. 3

   Step 3: Learn NORM.INV.

4. 4

   Step 4: Get to know RAND().

5. 5

   Step 5: Learn to combine functions.

6. 6

   Step 6: Entering the combined function.

7. 7

   Step 7: Replicate the Combined Function.

8. 8

   Step 8: View the Results.

Detailed Guide

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