normal distribution

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

normal distribution
    n 1: a theoretical distribution with finite mean and variance
         [syn: {normal distribution}, {Gaussian distribution}]

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

normal distribution
bell curve
Gaussian distribution

   <statistics> (Or "Gaussian distribution") The {frequency
   distribution} of many natural phenomena such as the height or
   intelligence of people of a certain age and sex.  The formula
   looks something like:

   	P(x) = e^(((x-m)/s)^2)

   where P(x) is the probability of a measurement x, m is the
   mean value of x and s is the {standard deviation}.

   Also known as a "bell curve" because of its shape.

   (2003-10-25)