Normal Distribution

Synopsis: An activity which involves analyzing data using the normal distribution.  Students break up into groups of 3 students, and analyze the amount of time students sleep.

Type of activity: In-class, small-group

Statistical topics: normal distribution

Time needed: 10 minutes

Materials needed:

Procedure:
  1. Ask students to break up into groups of size 3.
  2. Give one activity form to each student.
  3. Have each student record how many hours they slept the previous night.
  4. Ask each student to record the most amount of time anyone in the group slept.
  5. Have them find the percentage of Stat 250 students who slept longer than this person.
  6. Repeat the two previous steps for the person with the least amount of sleep and for the person who  slept between the amount the most person slept and the amount the least person slept.
  7. Each student should complete the activity and record their calculations.


Comments from others who have tried activity:  None.

Supplementary materials:  Activity Form: HTML Version
 

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This activity was submitted by Laura J. Simon: lsimon@stat.psu.edu