What is the shape of a normal distribution graph?

The shape of a normal distribution graph is bell-shaped. This characteristic curve is symmetrical around the mean, indicating that the majority of the data points are clustered near the average, with progressively fewer observations appearing as you move away from the center. The bell shape signifies that as you reach the extremes on either side of the mean, the frequency of the data points decreases.

This bell-shaped curve represents the inherent properties of normally distributed data, where about 68% of the data falls within one standard deviation of the mean, approximately 95% falls within two standard deviations, and around 99.7% falls within three standard deviations. These properties are foundational to statistical analyses and inferential statistics, making the normal distribution a key concept in understanding data behavior in various fields, including property appraisal.