The distribution of our weight is one of the standard examples given of the normal distribution appearing in nature. If we verify this assertion by looking at birth certificates to check our birth weight, we find that birth certificates are instructive and provide even more: They provide a good, real example of a large dataset with some of the problems associated with large datasets. Plus they produce other interesting, and to us unexpected, characteristics of recorded birth weights in the USA. Initially they do not, but after a little graphical sleuthing they do provide a good, natural example of the normal distribution.
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Traci E. Clemons (1999) studied this question.
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