Normal Probability Plots
Example of a normal probability plot graph paper ([Link])
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.