Binomial Distribution

What the binomial distribution is

How to recognise situations where the

binomial distribution applies

How to find probabilities for a given binomial

distribution, by calculation and from tables
When to use the binomial
distribution
 Independent variables
 Pascal’s Triangle
(a+b) n nCr

5C0 1
1 1
5C1 5
1 2 1
5C2 10
1 3 3 1 5C3 10
1 4 6 4 1 5C4 5
1 5 10 10 5 1 5C5 1

10 ways to get to the 3rd position numbering each of the terms

from 0 to 5. this can also be calculated by using nCr button on
your calculator 5C2=10
Pascal’s Triangle
(a+b) n
1 1
1 2 1
1 3 3 1 nCr n!÷(c!x(n-c)!)

1 4 6 4 1 5C0 5!÷(0!x5!) 1

1 5 10 10 5 1 5C1 5!÷(1!x4!) 5

5C2 5!÷(2!x3!) 10

5C3 5!÷(3!x2!) 10

5C4 5!÷(4!x1!) 5

5C5 5!÷(5!x0!) 1
 A coin is tossed 7 times. Find the
probability of getting exactly 3
heads.

We could do Pascal's triangle or we could calculate:

7C3 x (P(H))7

The probability of getting a head is ½

n 7   1

7 7
7C 3   
1 35
nCr     3       35  7   0.27
r    3  2  2 128
TASK

 Exercise A Page 61
Unequal Probabilities
 A dice is rolled 5 times
 What is the probability it will show 6
exactly 3 times?
P(6’)=5/6
P(6)=1/6
 5
   5C 3  10
 3
 5  1   5 
3 2

         P(3 sixes in 5 rolls)

 3  6   6 
Task / Homework

 Exercise B Page 62
The Binomial distribution is all
about success and failure.

When to use the Binomial Distribution

– A fixed number ofX trials

– Only two outcomes
– (true, false; heads tails; girl,boy; six, not six …..)
– Each trial is independent

IF the random variable X has Binomial

distribution, then we write X ̴ B(n,p)
Sometimes you have to
use the Binomial Formula

 n  x ( n x )
P( X  x)    p  q ,
 x
where q  1  p
Eggs are packed in boxes of 12. The probability
that each egg is broken is 0.35

Find the probability in a random box of eggs:

there are 4 broken eggs

12 
P( X  4)   0.354  0.65(124)  495  0.354  0.658
4
 0.235 to 3 significan t figures
Task / homework

 Exercise C Page 65
 Eggs are packed in boxes of 12. The probability
that each egg is broken is 0.35
Find the probability in a random box of eggs:

There are less than 3 broken eggs

P( X  3)  P( X  0)  P( X  1)  P( X  2)

12  12  12 

  0.35  0.65   0.35  0.65   0.352  0.65(10)
0 (12) 1 (11)

0 1 2

 11 0.005688  12  0.351  0.6511  66  0.1225  0.01346  0.0151
 USING TABLES of the
Binomial distribution
An easier way to add up binomial
probabilities is to use the cumulative
binomial tables
Find the probability of getting 3 successes in 6 trials,
when n=6 and p=0.3

n=6 x 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
P=0.3 P(X=x) 0.1176 0.4202 0.7443 0.9295 0.9891 0.9993 1.000
 n=6 x 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
P=0.3 P(X=x) 0.1176 0.4202 0.7443 0.9295 0.9891 0.9993 1.000

http://assets.cambridge.org/97805216/05397/excerpt/9780521605397_excerpt.pdf

The probability of getting 3 or fewer successes is found by adding:

P(X = 0) + P(X = 1) + P(X = 2) + P(X = 3) = 0.1176 + 0.3026 + 0.3241 +
0.1852 = 0.9295

The probability of getting 3 or fewer successes is found by adding:

P(X = 0) + P(X = 1) + P(X = 2) + P(X = 3) = 0.1176 + 0.3026 + 0.3241
+ 0.1852 = 0.9295

This is a cumulative probability.

Task / homework

 Exercise D page 67
Mean variance and standard deviation

 μ = Σx x P(X=x)=mean
 This is the description of how to get the mean
of a discrete and random variable defined in
previous chapter.
 The mean of a random variable whos
distribution is B(n,p) is given as:
 μ =np
Mean, variance & standard deviation

 σ²=Σx² x P(X=x) - μ²
 is the definition of variance, from the last
chapter of a discrete random variable.
 The variance of a random variable
whose distribution is B(n,p)
 σ²= np(1-p)
 σ=
np(1  p)
TASK / HOMEWORK

 Exercise E
 Mixed Questions
 Test Your self