The Empirical Rule

(Normal Distributions)

Introduction to Engineering Design © 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Empirical Rule
• Applies to normal distributions
• Almost all data will fall within three
standard deviations of the mean
Empirical Rule

If the data are

normally
distributed:

• 68% of the observations fall within 1 standard deviation

of the mean.
• 95% of the observations fall within 2 standard deviations
of the mean.
• 99.7% of the observations fall within 3 standard deviations
of the mean.
Empirical Rule Example
Data from a 0.0 3.0 -1.0 -3.0
sample of a 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.0
larger -1.0 -1.0 2.0 1.0
population 0.0 1.0 -1.0 -2.0
1.0 2.0 1.0 0.0
-2.0 -4.0 0.0 0.0
Mean = xത = 0.08

Standard Deviation = s = 1.77 (sample)

Normal Distribution

0.08 + 1.77
= 1.88
0.08 + - 1.77
= -1.69
68 %

s s
-1.77 +1.77
xത
0.08
Data Elements
Normal Distribution

0.08 + 3.54
= 3.62
0.08 + -3.54
= - 3.46
95 %

2s 2s
- 3.54 + 3.54
xത
0.08
Data Elements
Your Turn
Revisit the data you collected during the
Fling Machine Instant Challenge.
• Assume that you repeated launch cotton
balls with your device. Using the mean and
sample standard deviation of your data:
– Predict the range of travel distances within
which 68% of cotton balls would fall

– Predict the range of travel distances within

which 95% of cotton balls would fall
Example
Assume that a statistical analysis resulted in
the following:
Mean = xത = 2.35 ft.
Sample standard deviation = s = 0.76 ft
– Predict the range of travel distances within which 68%
of cotton balls would fall
xത ± s : 2.35 - 0.76 = 1.59 ft
2.35 + 0.76 = 3.26 ft

Prediction: Approximately 68% of the launches will

result in a travel distance between 1.59 ft and 3.26 ft.
Example
Assume that a statistical analysis resulted in
the following:
Mean = xത = 2.35 ft.
Sample standard deviation = s = 0.76 ft
– Predict the range of travel distances within which 95%
of cotton balls would fall
xത ± 2s : 2.35 – 2(0.76) = 0.83 ft
2.35 + 2(0.76) = 3.87ft

Prediction: Approximately 95% of the launches will

result in a travel distance between 0.83 ft and 3.86 ft.