Review of the

Binomial Distribution
By Young Jun Choi

Definition
The Binomial Distribution is the
distribution of ___?___

Definition
The Binomial Distribution is the
distribution of COUNTS.
It counts the number of successes in a
certain number of trials.

For example, if one wanted to

find out how many free throws a
basketball player makes in one
game, one would
COUNT the number of
shots he or she made.

Waitso does that mean the

distribution of the shots made is
binomial?
The answer isNO!

Why isnt it a binomial

distribution if it depends on
counts?
To answer that question, we
must look at the Binomial
Setting

The Binomial Setting

Fixed number of n trials

Independence
Two possible outcomes: success or failure
Same probability of a success for each
observation
If it FITS, its binomial.

Going back to the example, in

what ways did it not satisfy the
binomial setting?
First of all, there is no set number of n trials. In a
basketball game, one cannot predict or set how
many free-throws the player is going to shoot.
Second, there isnt independence or a set
probability of a success in each shot they take.
The player can improve or get worse with more
shots taken.

What is a good example that

satisfies the binomial setting?
Although there are many examples
that satisfy the binomial setting, the
Coin Toss experiment is the example
were going to use.

How can you carry out this

experiment so it doesnt go
against the binomial setting?
You select how many times you want to toss
the coin.
Decide which side (heads or tails) is going to
be the success when it lands.
Make the coin fair, meaning that the
probability of landing either heads or tails is .5.
Independence is a given, unless one can toss
the coin in a way that one outcome is favored
over the other.

To do the experiment, you can...

Toss the coins physically and record your
observations
Run a simulation on a calculator or on a
computer, provided by your teacher.

There is a formula that can help

us figure out the probabilities of
getting a certain number of
successes in a certain number of
trials.

What is that formula?

(Binomial Probability)

n k
p(x =k) = p (1p)nk
k

Can you explain this formula?

(Test Question)
n
p(x =k) = pk(1p) nk
k
To find the probability of k successes, you find
nis the number of sequences containing k
, which


numberkof successes. Then, you multiply by the
probability of k successes and probability of n-k
failures.

If we were to toss 10 coins,

the probability of getting 6
successes is...
10
p(x =6) = (.5) 6(.5)4 .2051
6

How would we do this on the

calculator?
You can go to the MATH key, then to PRB
and find the function nCr. This is the same
as n . Put the value of n before nCr and
k
the number
of successes you want after nCr.
Then you multiply by
.
k
nk
p (1p)
Or you can use the function
binompdf.
Binompdf(# of trials, p, x)

Whats the difference between

binompdf and binomcdf?
If we were looking for the probability of
getting 6 heads out of 10 tosses, then
binompdf only finds the likelihood of
getting 6 successes.
Binomcdf adds up all the probability of
successes up to that certain number, 6 in
this case, of successes, starting from 0 to k.

What is the mean and the standard

deviation of the binomial
distribution?

=np

= np(1p)

Is this distribution normal?

No, because it depends on counts and
counts are related to proportions.
Proportions are NEVER normal.

What happens when n gets so

large that it becomes awkward to
use the formula?
You use Normal Approximation for
binomial distributions.

When can we use Normal

Approximation?
When np is greater than or equal to 10 and n(1-p)
is greater than or equal to 10.
Once this requirement is met, you can treat it like
a normal distribution by using normcdf on your
calculator.
But when you use normal approximation, the
probability you get is an approximation, while the
probability you get through the formula is exact.

Summary
Binomial distribution depends on counts (never
normal).
FITS: the binomial setting
The formula:
n
p(x =k) = pk (1p)nk
k
=np

Parameters
Probability obtained
= through
np(1p)formula: exact
Probability obtained through approximation: not
exact