BinomialDistribution - Maple Help
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The Binomial Distribution

Main Concept

The binomial distribution is a discrete probability distribution that is used to obtain the probability of observing exactly k number of successes in a sequence of n trials, with the probability of success for all single trials of p. The binomial distribution describes a distribution where there are two mutually exclusive outcomes to an event. When n = 1, the binomial distribution is a Bernoulli distribution.

If a random variable X follows the binomial distribution, the probability of getting k successes in n trials is given by the following probability mass function:

fk = PX=k= nk pk 1p nk   

 

for k = 0,1,2, ... , n

where:

 

nk = n!k!nk! 

p is probability of a successful event

k is the number of success trials

n is the number of trials

 

The cumulative distribution function is defined as:

fk = PXk=i= 0kni pi 1p ni   

 

for k = 0,1,2, ... , n

 

Note that the probability function and cumulative distribution function for the binomial distribution are only defined for integer values for k and as such, there is no continual curve which can be drawn through the point.  The gray lines are only for illustrating the shape of each function over the interval.

Properties

If n = number of trials, and p = probability of a successful event then:

PMF

nk pk 1p nk

The probability mass function

CDF

i= 0kni pi 1p ni

The cumulative distribution function

Mean

np

The expected value of a binomial random variable

Standard Deviation

np1p

Represented by the symbol σ, representing how much variation or spread exists from the mean value.

 

 

Example

Suppose a biased coin comes up head with a probability of 0.2 when tossed. What is the probability of achieving 0, 1, 2, 3,and 4 heads after 4 tosses?

 

Let probability of success, p = 0.2, and number of trials, n = 4

P0 heads = f0 = PX= 0 = 40 0.20 10.2 40= 0.4096

P1 heads = f1 = PX= 1 = 41 0.21 10.2 41= 0.4096

P2 heads = f2 = PX= 2 = 42 0.22 10.2 42= 0.1536

P3 heads = f3 = PX= 3 = 43 0.23 10.2 43= 0.0256

P4 heads = f4 = PX= 4 = 44 0.24 10.2 44= 0.0016

 

 

See how the probability function of the binomial distribution changes with different values for the number of successes k, number of trials n, and the probability of success p.

 

# of successes (k) =

# of trials (n) =

Probability of success (p) =

 

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