The GATE Grind

GATE 2021 CE (CE1) – Question 13

Engineering Mathematics · Probability and Statistics: Random variables, Poisson and Normal distributions, linear regression · 1 mark · Multiple choice

The shape of the cumulative distribution function of a Gaussian distribution is

  1. Horizontal line
  2. Straight line at 45 degree angle
  3. Bell-shaped
  4. S-shaped

Practise this question in The GATE Grind →

Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (D) S-shaped

Explanation

The Gaussian density is bell-shaped, but its cumulative distribution is the integral of that density. It increases monotonically from 0 to 1, with steepest slope at the mean and flattening tails. Therefore the CDF is **S-shaped (D)**.