[college statistics]Find z* values based on standard normal distribution

Grab a standard normal distribution table, which you can usually find in the back of your textbook or as a PDF online. These tables show the area under the curve to the left of a specific z-score. Since you're looking for z*, you're likely dealing with a confidence level, like 95%. First, figure out the "tail" area. If your confidence level is 95%, that means 5% of the area is left over. Since the curve is symmetrical, split that in half; you've got 2.5% (or 0.025) in each tail. To find the z* value, look inside the body of the table for the number closest to 0.975 (which is 1 minus your tail area). Once you find that number, look at the row and column headers to read the corresponding z-score. For 0.975, you'll see it lands on 1.96. That's your z*. If you're allowed to use a calculator, look for the "invNorm" function. You just plug in the area to the left, and it spits out the z-score instantly. This is much faster than hunting through a table and helps you double-check your work before submitting.