This demonstration allows you to compare the t distribution to the standard normal
distribution. When the applet begins, the standard normal distribution is compared
to a t distribution with three degrees of freedom. You can change the degrees
of freedom of the t distribution with the slider. The 3 and the 50 mark the ends
of the slider. The "current" degrees of freedom are shown at the bottom where
it says "t distribution with df=3." As you change the slider, the df are shown
by this last line. The "zoom
in" button
allows you to change the scale of the graph to see the tails of the distribution
in more detail.