Normal distribution or Uniform distribution

In summary, the conversation discusses two jobs with different processing times: one with a normal distribution and the other with a uniform distribution. The person is working on a project in which they need to prioritize jobs based on their processing time. However, they are unsure how to compare the processing times of the two distributions. They are seeking advice on how to determine which job has a smaller processing time.
  • #1
Amol Musale
3
0
Hello,
I have two jobs,Normal distribution with mean of 4.5 minutes and standard deviation of 1.5 minutes for type 1 and uniformly distributed between 1 and 3 minutes for type 2
 
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  • #2
which job will requires less processing time??
 
  • #3
Amol Musale said:
which job will requires less processing time??

Show us your work; those are PF rules!
 
  • #4
I am working on simio and i have to decide job priority according to their processing time. smaller the processing time, higher the priority. I don't know how to compare between normal and uniform distribution.
 
  • #5
Amol Musale said:
I am working on simio and i have to decide job priority according to their processing time. smaller the processing time, higher the priority. I don't know how to compare between normal and uniform distribution.

First of all: the question "... has smaller processing time..." is meaningless; both processing times are random, so sometimes the uniform will be less than the normal, while other times it will be the opposite. You need to decide what "smaller" means; is it smaller in expectation or do you look at quantities like ##P(A < B)##, or what? YOU decide!
 

1. What is a normal distribution?

A normal distribution is a statistical concept that describes the frequency distribution of a set of data. It is also known as a Gaussian distribution or bell curve because of its characteristic shape. In a normal distribution, the majority of the data is clustered around the mean, with equal amounts of data on either side. This results in a symmetrical distribution, with the mean, median, and mode all being equal.

2. What are the properties of a normal distribution?

There are several properties of a normal distribution that make it a useful concept in statistics. These include a symmetrical shape, with the mean, median, and mode all being equal; a large percentage of data falling within one standard deviation of the mean; and a predictable relationship between the mean and standard deviation.

3. What is the difference between a normal distribution and a uniform distribution?

The main difference between a normal distribution and a uniform distribution is the shape of their frequency distributions. A normal distribution is bell-shaped, with most of the data clustered around the mean. In contrast, a uniform distribution is flat and rectangular, with an equal probability of occurrence for each value in the data set. Additionally, a normal distribution can take on any value on the real number line, while a uniform distribution is limited to a specific range of values.

4. How is a normal distribution used in real life?

A normal distribution is used in many real-life applications, including finance, biology, and psychology. For example, in finance, stock prices often follow a normal distribution, which allows investors to make predictions about future price movements. In biology, the height of a population is often normally distributed, and this information can be used to study evolutionary processes. In psychology, scores on intelligence tests often follow a normal distribution, which allows researchers to make comparisons and draw conclusions about the population.

5. What are some common misconceptions about a normal distribution?

One common misconception about a normal distribution is that all data should conform to this shape. In reality, many real-life data sets do not perfectly fit a normal distribution, and it is only used as an approximation for easier analysis. Another misconception is that the mean and median will always be equal in a normal distribution. While this is true for a perfectly symmetrical distribution, it may not hold true for skewed distributions. Lastly, it is important to remember that a normal distribution does not imply that the data is "normal" or "average" in any way; it simply describes the shape of the frequency distribution.

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