A LEVEL STATISTICS NOTES COMPILED BY MANYUVIRE D 0783235483

SPECIAL DISCRETE DISTRIBUTIONS

BERNOULLI DISTRIBUTION

Syllabus objectives

 Outline characteristics of Bernoulli distribution

 Calculate the mean, variance and standard deviation of Bernoulli distribution
 Use the probability density functions to calculate probabilities
 Solve problems involving the Bernoulli distribution

 WHAT IS A BERNOULLI DISTRIBUTION

 A Bernoulli distribution models results of experiments where there are precisely

two possible outcomes, success p and failure 1−p.=, where p is the probability of
success.
 Examples of Bernoulli trials include tossing a coin , selecting defective or non
defective components, answering true or false questions.
 The random variable from sample space {S,F} can be defined using a set of real
numbers {0,1} where 0 represent success and 1 represent failure.
 For a Bernoulli distribution X we write X Ber(p) and
P(X=x) = , x = 0,1
 Successive Bernoulli trials lead to a binomial distribution. A Bernoulli distribution
is therefore a special Binomial with n = 1
 CALCULATING PROBABILITIES INVOLVING A BERNOULLI

 P(X=x) = , x = 0,1 where p is the probability of success.

EXAMPLES
1.What is the probability of getting a score of not less than 5 in a throw of a six-
sided die?
Solution
There are six possible scores {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}. Success occurs when we get any
score in the set {5, 6} therefore P(X=1) = and failure in the set {1, 2, 3, 4}
Therefore P(X = 0) = .Hence, the probability of getting a score of not less than 5
in a throw of a six-sided die is .
2. An unbiased die is tossed find the probability of getting a head.
Solution
Since the coin is fair probability of getting a head is 0,5 so p = 0,5
3. Ten percent of the components manufactured by a certain process are defective.

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A LEVEL STATISTICS NOTES COMPILED BY MANYUVIRE D 0783235483

A component is chosen at random. Find the probability that it is defective.

Solution
Let p =0,10
P(X=x) = , x = 0,1
= 0,10

 MEAN, VARIANCE AND STANDARD DEVIATION.

 E(X) =
= x = 0,1
= 0× +1×
=p

= x = 0,1
= 0× +1×
=p
 Var(X) = E(X2)
=
=
 Generally if X Ber(p),then =p and =