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3.4 Binomial Distribution

The document discusses the binomial distribution, which models experiments with a fixed number (n) of independent trials where each trial results in success with probability p or failure with probability q=1-p. The probability of getting x successes in n trials is given by the binomial probability mass function. The mean and variance of a binomial distribution are np and npq respectively. Examples are provided to illustrate calculating probabilities and finding n and p from other statistics for a binomial random variable.

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Asiah Farwin
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31 views2 pages

3.4 Binomial Distribution

The document discusses the binomial distribution, which models experiments with a fixed number (n) of independent trials where each trial results in success with probability p or failure with probability q=1-p. The probability of getting x successes in n trials is given by the binomial probability mass function. The mean and variance of a binomial distribution are np and npq respectively. Examples are provided to illustrate calculating probabilities and finding n and p from other statistics for a binomial random variable.

Uploaded by

Asiah Farwin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Worksheet 3.

4
The Binomial Distribution

1. Some experiments can produce only two possible outcomes, i.e. a success or a failure.
For instance, when a coin is thrown, only two outcomes are possible, a ‘head’ or a ‘tail’.
If the event ‘getting a head’ is considered a success, then the event ‘getting a tail’ is a failure.

In general, a success means an event occurs, while a failure means the event does not occur. Such
similar experiments are called Bernoulli experiments or Bernoulli trials.

If p is the probability of an event occurring (a success) and q is the probability of the event not
occurring (a failure), then p  q  1 . This is understandable because any events A and A are
exhaustive events that are mutually exclusive.

2. In general, if X is a discrete random variable which represents the number of ‘successes’ in n


independent trials of an experiment, where p is the probability of getting ‘a success’ in a trial, then
the probability distribution function (or probability function) of X is given by
P(X = x) = nCx p x q n x , x  0, 1, 2, …, n.

Such probability distribution is called the Binomial distribution, represented by X  B(n, p).
We say that X is binomially distributed with parameters n and p.

3. In short, a Binomial distribution has the following characteristics:


 a finite number, n, trials are carried out,
 the trials are independent,
 the outcome of each trial is deemed either a success or a failure,
 the probability, p, of a successful outcome is the same for each trial.

4. The following examples further clarify the concepts of Binomial distribution.

Characteristics Example 1 Example 2


1. X  B(n, p) X is the number of eggs spoilt in X is the number of heads obtained,
delivery, where X  B(10, 0.1). where X  B(8, 0.5).
2. There is a finite number, There are 10 eggs in a carton, A fair coin is tossed 8 times,
n, of trials. n = 10. n = 8.
3. The trials are Each egg can get spoilt independently The outcome of each toss of the
independent. of all other eggs in the carton. coin is independent of those of other
tosses.
4. The outcome of each An egg is either spoilt or not spoilt (i.e. The outcome of tossing the coin is
trial is either a success in good condition). either a head or not a head (i.e. a
or a failure. tail).
5. The probability of Each egg has the same probability, p, Each toss of the coin has the same
a successful of getting spoilt. probability, p, of getting a head. In
outcome is the same for In this case, p = 0.1. this case, p = 0.5.
each trial.
This implies that for every 10 eggs, This implies that for every 8 tosses
1 egg is expected to get spoilt. [np = of the coin, 4 are expected to show a
10(0.1) = 1] head. [np = 8(0.5) = 4]

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Worksheet 3.4
5. For example, if X  B(8, 0.2),
 P(X = 0) = 8C0(0.2)0(0.8)8 = 0.88 = 0.168. {Note: nC0 = 1, for any positive integer n
and a0 = 1, for any real value a  0.}
 P(X = 1) = 8C1(0.2)1(0.8)7 = 8(0.2)(0.8)7 {Note: nC1 = n, for any positive integer n
= 0.336 and a1 = a, for any real value a.}
 P(X = 5) = 8C5(0.2)5(0.8)3 = 0.00918
 P(X = 8) = 8C8(0.2)8(0.8)0 = 0.28 {Note: nCn = 1, for any positive integer n.}
= 0.00000256
 P(3 < X ≤ 6) = P(X = 4) + P(X = 5) + P(X = 6)
= 8C4(0.2)4(0.8)4 + 8C5(0.2)5(0.8)3 + 8C6(0.2)6(0.8)2
= 0.0562
___________________________________________________________________________________
Mean and Variance

If a random variable X has a binomial distribution, that is X  B(n, p), then the expectation or mean of
X is np and the variance of X is npq, with q = 1 – p.
That is, for X  B(n, p), E(X) = np and Var(X) = npq.
___________________________________________________________________________________

Examples

1. A basketball team consists of 5 players. It may be assumed that, on every occasion, the probability
of any one of the regular members of the team being unavailable for selection is 20%,
independently of all other members. Find the probability that, on a particular occasion,

(a) exactly one regular member is unavailable,


(b) more than one regular member is unavailable,
(c) at least three regular members are unavailable,
(d) less than two regular members are unavailable,
(e) at most four regular members are unavailable.

2. During a multiple-choice mathematics exam, a weak student guesses the answer to each of the 20
questions. Given that each question offers five alternative answers, only one of which is correct.
Find the mean and standard deviation of the number of correct answers obtained.

3. Given X  B(n, p) with mean 3.2 and standard deviation 0.8. Find the values of n and p. Hence,
find P(X = 1).

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