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In this article
NORM.DIST gives the probability (cumulative) or the curve height (density) of a normal distribution at a value.
Syntax
=NORM.DIST(x, mean, standard_dev, cumulative)| Argument | What it means |
|---|---|
cumulative |
TRUE = probability of being at or below x. |
Examples
Example 1
=1-NORM.DIST(60, 45, 8, TRUE)Chance a delivery takes over 60 minutes when the mean is 45 and SD is 8 (about 3%).
NORM.DIST in practice
Where you will use it
- Chance a value is below a level
- Delivery time probabilities
- Quality control
Worked example
| Value | Mean | SD | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 50 | 10 | =ROUND(NORM.DIST(A2,B2,C2,TRUE),4) | 0.8413 |
| 50 | 50 | 10 | =ROUND(NORM.DIST(A3,B3,C3,TRUE),4) | 0.5 |
| 30 | 50 | 10 | =ROUND(NORM.DIST(A4,B4,C4,TRUE),4) | 0.0228 |
Results calculated in Excel.
Mistakes people make
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Cumulative flag | TRUE = probability below the value |
| Non-normal data | Check the shape first |
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📎 Practice files for this article
- 📗Practice workbook: Statistics advanced33 tasks on realistic sales data — type your formula, the Check column turns green when it is right. Answers sheet included.⬇ XLSX · 36 KB
Free to use for learning. Files with macros (.bas) are plain text — import them with Alt+F11 → File → Import File, and always test on a copy.
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