Revision NotesExam QuestionsPast Papers
A LevelMaths: Probability & Statistics 1CIERevision Notes3. Statistical Distributions3.2 Binomial & Geometric Distribution3.2.1 The Binomial Distribution

The Binomial Distribution (CIE A Level Maths: Probability & Statistics 1)

Revision Note

Amber

Author

Amber

Last updated

Did this video help you?

Properties of Binomial Distribution

What is a binomial distribution?

  • A binomial distribution is a discrete probability distribution
  • The discrete random variable X follows a binomial distribution if it counts the number of successes when an experiment satisfies the conditions:
    • There are a fixed finite number of trials begin mathsize 16px style bold left parenthesis bold italic n bold right parenthesis end style
    • The outcome of each trial is independent of the outcomes of the other trials
    • There are exactly two outcomes of each trial (success or failure)
    • The probability of success (p) is constant
  • If X follows a binomial distribution then it is denoted begin mathsize 16px style X tilde B left parenthesis n comma p right parenthesis end style
    • begin mathsize 16px style n end style is the number of trials
    • begin mathsize 16px style p end style is the probability of success
  • The probability of failure is 1-p which is sometimes denoted as q
  • The formula for the probability of r successful trials is given by:
    • begin mathsize 16px style P equals left parenthesis X equals r right parenthesis equals open parentheses table row n row r end table close parentheses space p to the power of r space left parenthesis 1 minus p right parenthesis to the power of n minus r end exponent end style for r = 0, 1, 2,....,n
    • This is equal to the term which includes begin mathsize 16px style p to the power of r end style in the expansion of begin mathsize 16px style left parenthesis p plus q right parenthesis to the power of n end style where begin mathsize 16px style q equals 1 minus p end style (this shows the link with the Binomial Expansion)

What are the important properties of a binomial distribution?

  • The expected number (mean) of successful trials is begin mathsize 16px style bold italic n bold italic p end style
  • The variance of the number of successful trials is begin mathsize 16px style bold italic n bold italic p bold left parenthesis bold 1 bold minus bold italic p bold right parenthesis end style 
    • Square root to get the standard deviation
  • The distribution can be represented visually using a vertical line graph
    • If p is close to 0 then the graph has a tail to the right
    • If p is close to 1 then the graph has a tail to the left
    • If p is close to 0.5 then the graph is roughly symmetrical
    • If p = 0.5 then the graph is symmetrical

1Aka39bs_4-2-1-the-binomial-distribution-diagram-1-part-1

shQh2uVX_4-2-1-the-binomial-distribution-diagram-1-part-2

4-2-1-the-binomial-distribution-diagram-1-part-3-1

Did this video help you?

Modelling with Binomial Distribution

How do I set up a binomial model?

  • Identify what a trial is in the scenario
    • For example: rolling a dice, flipping a coin, checking hair colour
  • Identify what the successful outcome is in the scenario
    • For example: rolling a 6, landing on tails, having black hair
  • Make sure you clearly state what your random variable is
    • For example, let X  be the number of students in a class of 30 with black hair

What can be modelled using a binomial distribution?

  • Anything that satisfies the four conditions
  • For example, let T be the number of times a fair coin lands on tails when flipped 20 times: T tilde straight B open parentheses 20 comma 1 half close parentheses
    • A trial is flipping a coin: There are 20 trials so n =20
    • We can assume each coin flip does not affect subsequent coin flips: They are independent
    • A success is when the coin lands on tails: Two outcomes - tails or not tails (heads)
    • The coin is fair: The probability of tails is constant with p equals 1 half
  • Sometimes it might seem like there are more than two outcomes
    • For example, let Y  be the number of yellow cars that are in a car park full of 100 cars
    • Although there are more than two possible colours of cars, here the trial is whether a car is yellow so there are two outcomes (yellow or not yellow)
    • Y would still need to fulfil the other conditions in order to follow a binomial distribution
  • Sometimes a sample may be taken from a population
    • For example, 30% of people in a city have blue eyes, a sample of 30 people from the city is taken and X  is the number of them with blue eyes
    • As long as the population is large and the sample is random then it can be assumed that each person has a 30% chance of having blue eyes

What can not be modelled using a binomial distribution?

  • Anything where the number of trials is not fixed or is infinite
    • The number of emails received in an hour
    • The number of times a coin is flipped until it lands on heads
  • Anything where the outcome of one trial affects the outcome of the other trials
    • The number of caramels that a person eats when they eat 5 sweets from a bag containing 6 caramels and 4 marshmallows
      • If you eat a caramel for your first sweet then there are less caramels left in the bag when you choose your second sweet
  • Anything where there are more than two outcomes of a trial
    • A person's shoe size
    • The number a dice lands on when rolled
  • Anything where the probability of success changes
    • The number of times that a person can swim a length of a swimming pool in under a minute when swimming 50 lengths
      • The probability of swimming a lap in under a minute will decrease as the person gets tired

Worked example

It is known that 8% of a large population are immune to a particular virus. Mark takes a sample of 50 people from this population. Mark uses a binomial model for the number of people in his sample that are immune to the virus

(a)
State the distribution that Mark uses.

 

(b)
State the two assumptions that Mark must make in order to use a binomial model.

4-2-1-the-binomial-distribution-we-solution-part-1

4-2-1-the-binomial-distribution-we-solution-part-2

Examiner Tip

  • If you are asked to criticise a binomial model always consider whether the trials are independent, this is usually the one that stops a variable from following a binomial distribution!

You've read 0 of your 5 free revision notes this week

Sign up now. It’s free!

Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

    Test yourself

    Did this page help you?

    Previous:3.1.2 E(X) & Var(X) (Discrete)Next:3.2.2 Calculating Binomial Probabilities
    Amber

    Author: Amber

    Expertise: Maths

    Amber gained a first class degree in Mathematics & Meteorology from the University of Reading before training to become a teacher. She is passionate about teaching, having spent 8 years teaching GCSE and A Level Mathematics both in the UK and internationally. Amber loves creating bright and informative resources to help students reach their potential.