Re: RC: RC: The Bell Curve: Heidi,Tom, Sarah...

[Truman Prevatt <truman.prevatt@netsrq.com>]

The bell curve, as you call it, is actually a normal or Gaussian
distribution and it is the LIMITING distribution for sample statistics
assuming one is working with a random sample and the sample size is
large enough (and four or five is not large enough). 

There are very few populations of any kind that actually fit a "bell
curve" - however their sample statistics (sample mean for example) will.
The only true random variable that is normal is electrical noise caused
by random electron motion and galactic noise.

So any any experiment one must take great care in experiment design and
sample selection to insure that the sample statistics do satisfy the
conditions set forth so that the bell curve can be used to project the
results onto the population as a whole. 

Truman

"guest@endurance.net" wrote:
> 
> Barb Peck bpeck@together.net
> bpeck@together.net
> 
> Beth's discription of people who can tolerate 100% gatorade vs
> people who have to dilute it, is an excellent example of people
> on opposite tail- ends of a Bell Curve distribution.
> 
> This distribution curve can be applied  to just about everything,
> including whether someone is thick or thin skinned,  willing
> to experiment with their horse, or extremely cautious, willing
> to post and be flamed or not, etc, etc.
> 

-- 
Truman Prevatt
Mystic “The Horse from Hell” Storm 
Buck's Mystic Karma
Rocket a.k.a. Mr. Misty
Jordy a.k.a. Bridger (when he is good)
Danson Flame - hey dad I'm well now and ready to go!

Brooksville, FL


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