Binomial Distribution Dr. M.

Jagadeeswari
 Binomial Distribution

Let a random experiment be performed repeatedly, each repetition being called

a trial and let the occurrence of an event in a trial be called a success and its non
occurrence a failure. Consider a set of n independent Bernoulli trials (n being
finite) in which the probability ‘p’ of success in any trial is constant for each
trial, then q=1-p is the probability of failure in any trial.
 Binomial Distribution

The probability of x successes and (n-x) failures in n independent trials in a

specified order SSFSFFFS…FSF (where S represents success and F represents
failure) is given by the compound probability theorem by the expression

P(SSFSFFFS…FSF) = P(S)P(S)P(F)P(S)P(F)P(F)P(F)P(S) × ⋯ × P(F)P(S)P(F)

= p . p . q . p . q . q . q . p⋯q . p . q
x n−x
= p . p . p⋯p . q . q . q⋯q = p q
 Binomial Distribution

(x)
n
But x successes in n trials can occur in ways and the probability for each of
x n−x
these ways is same p q . Hence the probability of x successes in n trials in any

(x)
n x n−x
order is given by the addition theorem of probability by the expression pq .

The probability distribution of the number of successes so obtained is called the

Binomial probability distribution, for the obvious reason that the probabilities of 0,

(1) (2)
n n n−1 n n−2 2 n
1, 2, … n successes viz., q , q p, q p , ⋯, p are the successive terms
n
of the binomial expansion (q + p) .
 Binomial Distribution
A random variable X is said to be binomial distribution if it assumes only non negative
values and its probability mass function is given by

(x)
n x n−x
P(X = x) = p(x) = { pq x = 0,1,2,⋯n, q = 1 − p 0 otherwise

The two independent constants n and p in the distribution are known as the parameters of
the distribution. ’n’ is also sometimes known as the degree of the binomial distribution.

Binomial distribution is a discrete distribution as X can take only the integral values viz,
0,1,2...n. Any random variable which follows binomial distribution is known as binomial
variate.
 Binomial Distribution
Notation:
X ∼ B(n, p) denote the random variable X follows binomial distribution with parameters n and p. The probability
p(x) is also sometimes denoted by b(x, n, p).

Remarks:
The assignment of probabilities in the above equation is permissible because

∑ ∑ (x)
n n
n x n−x n
= p q = (q+) = 1.
x=0 x=0

Constitute an experiment with n trials. Then if this experiment is repeated N times, the frequency function of the

∑ (x)
n
n x n−x
binomial distribution is given by f(x) = Np(x) = N p q , x = 0,1,2⋯n
x=0
Remark
Binomial distribution must also meet the following criteria:

Each trial results in two exhaustive and mutually disjoint outcomes, termed as success and
failure.

The number of observations or trials ’n’ are finite.

The trial are independent of each other.

The probability of success ‘p’ is constant for each trial.

The trials satisfying the above conditions are also called Bernoulli’s trials.

The problems relating to tossing of a coin or throwing of dice or drawing cards from a pack of
cards with replacement lead to binomial probability distribution.
 Discrete Uniform Distribution

A random variable X is said to have a discrete uniform distribution over the

range [1,n] if its p expressed as follows

P(X = x) = {1/n for x = 1,2,⋯n 0 otherwise

Here n is known as the parameter of the distribution and lies in the set of all
positive integers. The above equation is also called a discrete rectangular
distribution.
 Binomial Distribution

A binomial distribution is the probability of a success or failure outcome in an

experiment or survey that is repeated multiple times. The binomial is a type of
distribution that has two possible outcomes (the prefix “bi” means two or
twice). For example, a coin toss has only two possible outcomes: heads or tails
and taking a test could have two possible outcomes: pass or fail.

The first variable in the binomial formula n, stands for the number of times the
experiment runs. The second variable, p represents the probability of one
specific outcome.
 Poisson distribution
Poisson distribution is a theoretical discrete probability and is also known as the Probability
distribution probability mass function.
It is used to find the probability of an independent event that is occurring in a fixed interval
of time and has constant mean rate.
In other words, Poisson distribution is used to estimate how many times an event is likely to
occur within the given period of time. Lambda is the poisson rate parameter that indicates
the expected value of the average number of events in the fixed time interval.
The probability distribution probability mass function can also be used in other fixed
intervals such as volume, ara, distance etc., It has wide use in the fields of business as well as
in biology.
For a random discrete variable X that follows the Poisson distribution and λ is the
average rate of value, then the probability of x is given by
−λ x
e λ
P(X = x) =
x!
Where x=0, 1, 2, 3 …
e is the Euler’s number (e=2.718)
λ is an average are of the expected value and λ= variance also λ > 0.
i.e., E(X) = V(X) = λ where E(X) is the expected value and V(X) is the variance
 Properties
The events are independent
The average number of successes in the given period of time alone can occur. No two events can
occur at the same time.
The Poisson distribution is limited when the number of trials n is indefinitely large.
λ = np is finite where λ is constant.
The standard deviation is always equal to the square root of the mean.
−μ a
e μ
The exact probability that the random variable X with mean μ = a is given by P(X = a) =
a!
If the mean is large, then the Poisson distribution is approximately a normal distribution.
Poisson distribution table
 Problems to practice
1. Find the mass probability of function at x=6 if the value of the mean is 3.4.

2. The mean number of bacteria per millilitre of a liquid is known to be 6. Find

the probability that in 1ml of the liquid there will be
a) 0. B) 1 c)2. D)3 e) less than 4 f) 6

3. A life insurance salesman sells on the average 3 life insurances per week. Use
Poisson laws to calculate the probability that in a given week he will sell

A) some policies b) 2 or more policies but less than 5 policies c) Average no of

policies sold per day