How to Normalize Data
When you normalize a set of data, you map the original data range into another scale. The steps for normalizing a data set are described here.
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You Will Need
- Data set minimum and maximum
- Normalize scale minimum and maximum
- Number in the data set
- Normalized value
Steps
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Step 1
Identify the minimum and maximum values
Identify the smallest and largest numbers in the original data set and represent them with the variables A and B, respectively.
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If you are normalizing a set of data where the smallest number is 25 and the largest number is 75, set capital A to equal 25 and capital B to equal 75.
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Step 2
Identify the minimum and maximum values of the normalized scale
Identify the smallest and largest numbers in the normalized scale and represent them by the variables lowercase a and lowercase b, respectively.
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If you are normalizing to the range between 1 and 10, set a will equal 1 and b will equal 10.
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Step 3
Calculate normalized value
Calculate the normalized value of any number x in the original data set using the equation a plus (x minus A) times (b minus a) divided by (B minus A).
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"Normalize" comes from the Latin word for a carpenter's square.
