Find a normal tail probability

Show the area below a value under a specified normal model.

Guides · Basic statistics · 4 min read

Example: bottle fills below 245 mL

Assume bottle fill is normally distributed with a mean of 250 mL and standard deviation of 2.5 mL. These are supplied model parameters, not estimates fitted by this calculator.

Download the scenario reference (CSV)

This is the same example used in Help. The CSV lists reference scenarios. Enter the selected scenario manually on Inputs; importing it does not configure this calculator. Use Open example in a practice copy in Help to prefill the inputs.

1. Create the workspace

In the sidebar, open Basic Statistics and choose Normal Distribution Plot. Create an analysis, name it, select New blank worksheet, then choose Create analysis.

2. Enter the distribution

On Inputs, enter 250 in Mean (μ) and 2.5 in Standard deviation (σ), both in mL.

3. Choose the shaded region

Choose Left tail for Shaded region and Specified x value for Specify region by. Enter 245 in Value (x). No worksheet columns are assigned.

Normal Distribution Plot: Inputs with the example’s assignments and settings
Inputs with the assumed mean and standard deviation and the selected shaded-region question. View full-size image (opens in a new tab)

4. Run analysis

Choose Run analysis, then open Results.

5. Interpret results

  1. Check the assumed model

    Assume bottle fill is normally distributed with a mean of 250 mL and standard deviation of 2.5 mL. These are supplied model parameters, not estimates fitted by this calculator.

  2. Read the shaded area

    The shaded area to the left of 245 mL is 0.0227501, about 2.275%. That is the modeled probability of a bottle fill below 245 mL.

    Normal distribution plot
    Modeled proportion below 245 mL under Normal mean 250 mL and SD 2.5 mL. View full-size chart (opens in a new tab)
  3. Keep the meaning clear

    The curve height is density. Probability is the shaded area, not the height at 245 mL.

  4. Apply it to the question

    Compare the modeled tail with a defined fill requirement. Check representative fill measurements before treating this model probability as an operating underfill rate.

More details: read each result section

Complete result tables use six significant digits, as in Help.

Normal distribution summary

Mean μ is the center; Standard deviation σ is the spread in mL. Shaded region names the selected area. Region input records whether a value or probability was entered. Shaded probability is the area under the curve; Cut x1 and, where shown, Cut x2 are its boundaries in mL. The curve height is density. Probability is the shaded area, not the height at 245 mL.

Normal distribution summary · 6 rows
StatisticValue
Mean μ250
Standard deviation σ2.5
Shaded regionleft
Region inputx
Shaded probability0.0227501
Cut x1245
  • Shading extends across ±4σ unless the requested region lies farther away.

6. Create a report

Keep the Normal distribution plot and Normal distribution summary together. Record the supplied mean and SD, selected region, input and resulting probability or cutoff. The curve height is density. Probability is the shaded area, not the height at 245 mL.

Choose Add to report from the completed run. Open Choose individual items and advanced options to select tables and charts, then choose Add to draft. Hidden items stay in the saved analysis.

Name the report and add the purpose of the study and your interpretation. Choose Save, review Preview, then use Export → Download HTML. The example below contains the full selected content, including results beyond one screen.

Complete native output for this Help example, including applicable tables, charts and run notes. Report numbers use the app’s displayed precision. Exported charts are static. On narrow screens, scroll wide charts and tables sideways.
View example report: Find the probability below 245 mL

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