This step-by-step tutorial explains how to plot the following log-normal distribution in Excel:
Step 1: Define the X Values
First, let’s define a range of x-values to use for our plot.
Step 2: Calculate the Y Values
The y values on the plot will represent the PDF values associated with the log-normal distribution.
We can type the following formula into cell B2 to calculate the PDF value of the log-normal distribution associated with an x value of 0.01, a mean value of 1, and a standard deviation of 1:
=LOGNORM.DIST(A2, $E$1, $E$2, FALSE)
We can then copy and paste this formula down to every remaining cell in column B:
Step 3: Plot the Log-Normal Distribution
Next, highlight the cell range A2:B22, then click the Insert tab along the top ribbon, then click the Scatter option within the Charts group and click Scatter with Smooth Lines:
The following chart will be created:
The x-axis shows the values of a random variable that follows a log-normal distribution with a mean value of 1 and a standard deviation of 1 and the y-axis shows the corresponding PDF values of the log-normal distribution.
Note that if you change the values for the mean or standard deviation in cells E1 and E2, respectively, the plot will automatically update.
Step 4: Modify the Appearance of the Plot
Feel free to add a title, axis labels, and remove the gridlines to make the plot more aesthetically pleasing:
Additional Resources
The following tutorials explain how to plot other common distributions in Excel:
How to Plot a Bell Curve in Excel
How to Plot a Binomial Distribution in Excel
How to Plot a Poisson Distribution in Excel