Equations · equation
Normal Distribution
Mathematics · 1809
- Equation
- f(x) = e^(−(x−μ)²/2σ²) / (σ·√(2π))
- Field
- Mathematics
- Named After
- Abraham de Moivre · Carl Friedrich Gauss
- Symbols
- μ the mean, where the bell centres · σ the standard deviation, its width · the curve's total area is exactly 1
- Year
- 1809
Significance
Pile up enough independent small causes and their sum falls on this bell — the central limit theorem makes it the default shape of noise, from measurement error (Gauss derived it fitting asteroid orbits) to heights, IQ scores, and the static in every instrument on this site's shelves.
Referenced by
constant
equation
instrument
Open on the Equations shelf — the interactive card, the filters, and everything alongside it.