Probability models > Binomial distribution
1234Binomial distribution

Theory

If you repeat a "yes/no" - experiment n times, and the number of successes is X (how often "yes" occurs), then X follows a binomial probability distribution. A binomial experiment therefore consists of n equal and independent experiments, each of which can have exactly two outcomes.
The probability to observe k successes is P ( X = k ) = ( n k ) p k q n k .
In this formula, the chance for "success" is still p and 0 k n .
The variables n and p are called the parameters of the binomial distribution.

If a statistic is binomially distributed with parameters n en p then the following is true:

  • the expected value is: Ε ( X ) = n p

Your graphing calculator has two programs for quickly calculating binomial probabilities.
For probabilities of the type Ρ ( X = k ) you should use the binomial probability distribution function.
For probabilities of the type Ρ ( X k ) you should use the binomial cumulative distribution function.
Probabilities such as Ρ ( X < k ) , Ρ ( X > k ) en Ρ ( X k ) you should convert to the previous form. 

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