4.

3
Binomial Distribution
Binomial distribution

You learnt in chapter 3 that a probability experiment is any action for which an
outcome, response or measurement is obtained. A binomial experiment is simply a
particular type of probability experiment. In a binomial experiment:

1. The same action (trial) is repeated a fixed number of times.

2. Each trial is independent of the others.
3. For each trial, there are just two outcomes of interest. One outcome may be
designated “success”, and the other “failure”.
4. The probability of success remains constant for each trial.

2
Example

For example, let’s suppose you wanted to know the probability of getting a 1 on a
die roll. If you were to roll a die 20 times, what would be the probability that the die
lands on 1 six times?

Probability of success: The probability of rolling a one on any throw is 1/6.

Number of trials: Rolling the die twenty times
SUCCESS: “roll a one”
FAILURE: “roll anything else.”
Number of success: 6

3
Combinations

A combination is a selection of & items from a set of ' distinct objects without
regard to the order in which the & items are picked. The symbol !" is used to
designate the number of ways to choose & items from a group of ' objects. The
formula to find !" is:
' '!
=
& &! ' − & !

Where:
'! (or ' factorial) represents the product of all integers from ' down to 1
r! (or & factorial) represents the product of all integers from & down to 1

'! = '× ' − 1 × ' − 2 × ⋯×(1)

r! = &× & − 1 × & − 2 × ⋯×(1)

4
Example

How many ways can we choose two items out of seven? That is, what’s the number
of combinations of seven items taken two at a time.

Answer:

! !!
"
=
"! !$" !

7 7! 7! 7×6×5×4×3×2×1
= = = = 21
2 2! 7 − 2 ! 2!×5! 2×1 (5×4×3×2×1)

5
Calculating Binomial Probabilities with a Formula
In general, for a binomial experiment with ' trials, where 3 is the probability of
success and 4 is the probability of failure in a single trail, the probability of exactly &
successes in the ' trails is given by this formula:
allcombinations n Thenumber of trials
' " !$"
5 6=& = 3 4 78& 9': & = 0, 1, 2, … , '
&
Thenumber
f theprobability of
ofsuccess Probability failure
ofsuccess
Note that 3 + 4 = 1.
q
Notation for the Binomial: ? = Binomial Probability Distribution Function
6 ~ A(', 3)
Read this as "6 is a random variable with a binomial distribution." The parameters
are ' and p; ' = number of trials, 3 = probability of a success on each trial.

6
Example

According to the Saskatchewan Government Insurance corporation, 35 percent of all

collisions involving drinking drivers in Saskatchewan occurred between midnight and
4:00 AM. A random sample of 15 collisions involving drinking drivers in
Saskatchewan is selected. Find the probability that:

(a) Exactly five occurred between midnight and 4:00 AM.

(b) Exactly 2 occurred between midnight and 4:00 AM.
(c) At most five occurred between midnight and 4:00 AM.
Answer: b r 2 5 2
0.35 26.65
a n 45 13 0 35 pLX 2 f
1 0.35 0.35121065
r 5 9 1 10
0.6
E
0.0476

IE
II gs.si
0 F 351 651 t E co35170.6551 E
co.zspco.gs's

f o.zsgqo.gg
0.0016 0.0126 10 0476 0.111 0.1792 0.2123
7
0.2123 0.5643J
Using Tables to Determine Binomial Probabilities
To get the same results from the table that we’ve just computed using the binomial
formula, you first read down the left-hand column of the table to get to ' = 15.
Then scan across to the values under 3 = 0.35 column. The entire probability
distribution that we’ve just calculated is listed, and you can select any value you
need. That’s a lot easier than using the formula.
r
Prof Yess

8
Example
(a) Exactly five occurred between midnight and 4:00 AM. 10 0.35
(b) Exactly 2 occurred between midnight and 4:00 AM. n 15
(c) At most five occurred between midnight and 4:00 AM.

a p 11 5 0 2123
r
b p X 2 O 0476

1041 1 tP X 2 pCX 3 P X 4 p 5
c p XSS p 11 0
0.0016 10.0126 1 O 0476 0.1110 0.1792 1 O 2123 0.56432 9
The Expected Value of a Binomial Distribution
To find the expected value of a Binomial distribution, simply multiply the number of
trials by the probability of success in a single trial.

B = C 6 = '3
Theprobability of
Thenumber success
of trials

10
The Variance and Standard Deviation of a Binomial Distribution

The variance of a binomial distribution is found with this formula:

q D % = '34

The standard deviation of a binomial experiment is found by taking the square root
of the variance, that is, with this formula:

D = '34

11
 Example
Suppose that 0.45 percent of university students use a personal computer. If 9
students are selected at random,
(a) What is the probability that less than three students use a personal computer.
(b) What is the expected number who use a personal computer
(c) What is the variance and standard deviation for this distribution?
Answer: a p XL3 p XE2
p 11 0 109 11 134 2
r D
0.00461 0.0339 10.1110
a o
0.149574

b ECX np
9 0.4

4.051
C 6Enpq 9 0.45 0.55 2.2275 6 72
2275 0.4769

9 1 p l O 45 0.55 12