Normal Distribution
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
A bell-shaped curve. Most data cluster around the mean, with extreme values being rare. It applies to variables that are sums of independent factors, such as height and IQ.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
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The mediocre world. In domains following a normal distribution (e.g., manufacturing yield), the mean represents everything, and extreme values can be ignored. However, in domains following a power law (e.g., wealth, influence), the mean is meaningless, and extreme values dominate. It is crucial to distinguish which world you are in.
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The accumulation of many independent small factors, by the central limit theorem, approaches a bell-shaped distribution. The mean determines the location, and the variance determines the spread.
MINIMUM ACTION
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_distributionverified
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