Statistics and Probability CMU Mathematics Department

CHAPTER 3: Binomial Distribution and Normal Distribution

Below are the topics and objectives to be considered as you going through this chapter.

Topics:
3.1.Binomial Distribution
3.1.1. Mean, Variance and Standard Deviation of Binomial Random Variable
3.2.Normal Distribution
3.2.1. Rules in Computing Probabilities or Area using the Standard Normal Table
3.2.2. Converting a Random Variable that is Normally Distributed to a Standard Random
Variable
3.2.3. Applications of the Normal Distribution
Objectives:
(1) Illustrates a binomial random variable and its characteristics;
(2) Solve problems related to binomial distribution;
(3) Calculate the mean, variance and standard deviation of binomially distributed random
variable;
(4) Illustrates a normal random variable and its characteristics;
(5) Construct a normal curve;
(6) Identifies regions under the normal curve corresponding to different standard normal
values;
(7) Converts a normal random variable to a normal variable and vice versa; and
(8) Computes probabilities and percentiles using the standard normal table.

3.1. BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION: A Discrete Distribution

Binomial Distribution is an example of a discrete probability distribution, which is often
encountered in practice. Some statistical problems involve repeated trials, which are independent
and dichotomous, that is, it involves two possible outcomes often called ‘success’ or ‘failure’. If
all trials have identical probability of success, then this type is called a binomial experiment.
A binomial experiment possesses the following characteristics:
The experiment consists of n repeated trials.
Each trial results in one of two mutually exclusive outcomes that may be classified
as either a ‘success’ or a ‘failure’.
The probability of a success in one trial, denoted by p, remains constant from trial
to trial. The probability of failure is denoted by q, where 𝑞 = 1 − 𝑝.
The repeated trials are independent.

The random variable X is a binomial random variable and its probability distribution is
written mathematically by the equation:

𝑛!
𝑃(𝑋 = 𝑥) = 𝑏(𝑥; 𝑛, 𝑝) = 𝑛 𝐶𝑥 𝑝 𝑥 𝑞𝑛−𝑥 𝑜𝑟 𝑝 𝑥 𝑞 𝑛−𝑥
𝑥! (𝑛 − 𝑥)!

where 𝑛 is the number of trials;

𝑝 is the probability of success;
𝑞 is the probability of failure; and
𝑥 is the number of successes and 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑛.

Note: A success refers to the event under consideration.

Second Semester 1 JOBELLE S. SIMBLANTE
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Example 1. Find the probability of obtaining exactly three 4’s if a balance die is tossed 5 times.
1 1 5
Given: 𝑛 = 5; 𝑥 = 3; 𝑝 = ; and 𝑞 = 1 − =
6 6 6
Solution:
1 1 3 5 5−3
𝑃(𝑋 = 3) = 𝑏 (3; 5, ) = 5 𝐶3 ( ) ( ) = 0.03215
6 6 6

Example 2. A fair coin is tossed 3 times and a head is designated as a success. Find the probability that:
a. 2 heads occur
b. At least 2 heads
c. No head occurs

Solution:

a. 2 heads occur
1 1 1
Given: 𝑛 = 3; 𝑥 = 2; 𝑝 = ; and 𝑞 = 1 − =
2 2 2

1 1 2 1 3−2 3
𝑃(𝑋 = 2) = 𝑏 (2; 3, ) = 3 𝐶2 ( ) ( ) = 𝑜𝑟 0.375
2 2 2 8

b. At least 2 heads
1 1 1
Given: 𝑛 = 3; 𝑥 = 2 & 3; 𝑝 = 2; and 𝑞 = 1 − 2 = 2

1 1 1 2 1 3−2 1 3 1 3−3 1
𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 2) = 𝑏 (2; 3, ) + 𝑏 (3; 3, ) = 3 𝐶2 ( ) ( ) + 𝐶
3 3 ( ) ( ) = 𝑜𝑟 0.5
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
c. No head occurs
1 1 1
Given: 𝑛 = 3; 𝑥 = 0; 𝑝 = 2; and 𝑞 = 1 − 2 = 2

1 1 0 1 3−0 1
𝑃(𝑋 = 0) = 𝑏 (0; 3, ) = 3 𝐶0 ( ) ( ) = 𝑜𝑟 0.125
2 2 2 8

Example 3. A multiple-choice quiz has 10 questions, each with four possible answers of which only one is
the correct answer. What is the probability that sheer guesswork would yield at most 1 correct answer?
1 1 3
Given: 𝑛 = 10; 𝑥 = 0 & 1; 𝑝 = 4; and 𝑞 = 1 − 4 = 4
Solution:
1 1 1 0 3 10−0 1 1 3 10−1
𝑃(𝑋 ≤ 1) = (0; 10, ) + 𝑏 (1; 10, ) = 10 𝐶0 ( ) ( ) + 10 𝐶1 ( ) ( ) = 0.24402
4 4 4 4 4 4

3.1.1. Mean, Variance, and Standard Deviation of a binomially distributed random variable are
given by:
➢ Mean: 𝜇 = 𝑛𝑝;
➢ Variance: 𝜎 2 = 𝑛𝑝𝑞;
➢ Standard Deviation: 𝜎 = √𝑛𝑝𝑞.

Example: The probability that a patient recovers from a rare blood disease is 0.4. if 15
people are known to have contracted this disease, find the mean and standard deviation of
the number of recoveries among 15 patients.

Given: 𝑛 = 15; 𝑝 = 0.4; and 𝑞 = 1 − 0.4 = 0.6

Solution: The mean and standard deviation of the number of recoveries is given by:

𝜇 = 𝑛𝑝 = 15(0.4) = 6 and 𝜎 = √𝑛𝑝𝑞 = √15(0.4)(0.6) = 1.897

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3.2. NORMAL DISTRIBUTION
Normal distribution is also known as Gaussian distribution in honor of Carl Friedrick Gauss
(1777-1855) who derived its equation from a study of errors in repeated measurements of some
quantity. The normal distribution function is given by:

1 1 𝑥−𝜇 2
(− ( ) )
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 2 𝜎
√2𝜋𝜎 2

where −   x  +,  = 3.14159 ...., and e = 2.71828....

The graph of a normal distribution known as normal curve is a bell-shaped curve that
extends asymptotically to the horizontal axis in both directions.

The normal distribution has many interesting properties, some of which are used to
simplify the computation of probability. Some of these properties are:

(1) It is symmetric with respect to a vertical axis passing through the mean 𝜇
(2) The mean, median and mode are equal.
(3) The tails are asymptotic relative to the horizontal line.
(4) The total area under the curve and about the horizontal axis is 1 or 100%.
(5) One standard deviation from the mean is 68%.
(6) Two standard deviations from the mean are about 95%.
(7) Three standard deviations from the mean are about 99.7%.

3.2.1 Rules in Computing Probabilities or Area using the Standard Normal Table
1. 𝑃(𝑍 = 𝑧) = 0
2. 𝑃(𝑍 ≤ 𝑧) = 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑧 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒
or
𝑃(𝑍 < 𝑧) = 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑧 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒

3. 𝑃(𝑍 ≥ 𝑧) = 1 − 𝑃(𝑍 ≤ 𝑧)
or
𝑃(𝑍 > 𝑧) = 1 − 𝑃(𝑍 < 𝑧)

4. 𝑃(𝑧1 ≤ 𝑍 ≤ 𝑧2 ) = 𝑃(𝑍 ≤ 𝑧2 ) − 𝑃(𝑍 ≤ 𝑧1 ), 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑧2 > 𝑧1

or
𝑃(𝑧1 < 𝑍 < 𝑧2 ) = 𝑃(𝑍 < 𝑧2 ) − 𝑃(𝑍 < 𝑧1 ), 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑧2 > 𝑧1

Example 1. Let Z be a standard normal random variable. Find the following probabilities using the
standard normal table.
(a) 𝑷(𝒁 = −𝟏. 𝟐)
(b) 𝑷(𝒁 ≤ −𝟏. 𝟐)
(c) 𝑷(𝒁 > 𝟎. 𝟓𝟑)
(d) 𝑷(−𝟐. 𝟓𝟔 < 𝒁 < −𝟎. 𝟐𝟕)

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Solution:

(a) 𝑷(𝒁 = −𝟏. 𝟐)

Since the symbol is equal sign, we will apply rule number 1 which is 𝑃(𝑍 = 𝑧) = 0. Thus
𝑃(𝑍 = −1.2) = 0.

z
-2 -1 0 1 2

z = -1.2

(b) 𝑷(𝒁 ≤ −𝟏. 𝟐)

Since the symbol is less than or equal, we will apply rule number 2 which is 𝑃(𝑍 ≤ 𝑧) =
𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑧 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒. From standard
normal table, scan through the table to locate the row whose leftmost value is – 1.2 and the
column whose topmost value is 0.00 as shown below.

The cell in the intersection of this row and column contains the area of the shaded region
drawn below, which is 0.1151.

𝑷(𝒁 ≤ −𝟏. 𝟐)

z = -1.2

Hence, 𝑃(𝑍 ≤ −1.2) = 0.1151

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(c) 𝑷(𝒁 > 𝟎. 𝟓𝟑)

Since the symbol is greater than, we will apply rule number 3 which is
𝑃(𝑍 > 𝑧) = 1 − 𝑃(𝑍 < 𝑧). Now, 𝑃(𝑍 > 0.53) = 1 − 𝑃(𝑍 < 0.53) where 𝑃(𝑍 < 0.53) =
0.7019 as shown below

Then, 𝑷(𝒁 > 𝟎. 𝟓𝟑) = 𝟏 − 𝑷(𝒁 < 𝟎. 𝟓𝟑)

= 𝟏 − 𝟎. 𝟕𝟎𝟏𝟗

= 𝟎. 𝟐𝟗𝟖𝟏

Thus, 𝑷(𝒁 > 𝟎. 𝟓𝟑) = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟗𝟖𝟏. The normal curve is

𝑷(𝒁 > 𝟎. 𝟓𝟑)

0.2981

z = 0.53

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(d) 𝑷(−𝟐. 𝟓𝟔 < 𝒁 < −𝟎. 𝟐𝟕)

We will apply rule number 4 which is 𝑃(𝑧1 < 𝑍 < 𝑧2 ) = 𝑃(𝑍 < 𝑧2 ) − 𝑃(𝑍 < 𝑧1 ). Now,

𝑃(−2.56 < 𝑍 < −0.27) = 𝑃(𝑍 < −0.27) − 𝑃(𝑍 < −2.56) where 𝑃(𝑍 < −0.27) = 0.3936
and 𝑃(𝑍 < −2.56) = 0.0052 as shown below

Then, 𝑃(−2.56 < 𝑍 < −0.27) = 𝑃(𝑍 < −0.27) − 𝑃(𝑍 < −2.56)

= 0.3936 − 0.0052 = 0.3884

Thus, 𝑃(−2.56 < 𝑍 < −0.27) = 0.3884. The normal curve is

𝑷(−𝟐. 𝟓𝟔 < 𝒁 < −𝟎. 𝟐𝟕)

0.3884

z = -2.56 z = -0.27

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Example 2. Find the value of z, if
(a) 𝑷(𝒁 < 𝒛) = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟒𝟔𝟏
(b) 𝑷(𝒁 > 𝒛) = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟑𝟒𝟓
(c) 𝑷(−𝒛 < 𝒁 < 𝒛) = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟓

Solution:

(a) 𝑷(𝒁 < 𝒛) = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟒𝟔𝟏

To find z if the symbol is less than, we scan through the row and column whose intersection value
is equal to 0.8461 as shown below

Now, 𝑷(𝒁 < 𝟏. 𝟎𝟐) = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟒𝟔𝟏. Thus, 𝒛 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟐.

Note: If no such value is found, an approximation can be made by choosing a value nearest to it.

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(b) 𝑷(𝒁 > 𝒛) = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟑𝟒𝟓

We know that 𝑃(𝑍 > 𝑧) = 1 − 𝑃(𝑍 < 𝑧), so,

𝑷(𝒁 > 𝒛) = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟑𝟒𝟓

𝟏 − 𝑷(𝒁 < 𝒛) = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟑𝟒𝟓

𝑷(𝒁 < 𝒛) = 𝟏 − 𝟎. 𝟗𝟑𝟒𝟓

𝑷(𝒁 < 𝒛) = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟔𝟓𝟓

To find z, we scan through the row and column whose intersection value is equal to 0.0655 as
shown below

Now, 𝑷(𝒁 < 𝟏 − 𝟏. 𝟓𝟏) = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟔𝟓𝟓. Thus, 𝒛 = −𝟏. 𝟓𝟏.

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(c) 𝑷(−𝒛 < 𝒁 < 𝒛) = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟓

0.95

The area of the unshaded portion of the graph is 1 – 0.95 = 0.05. Thus, the tails below – z and
above z, each has an area of 0.025. From the standard normal table, 𝑷(𝒁 < −𝟏. 𝟗𝟔) = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟓
as shown below

Now, 𝑷(𝒁 < 𝟏. 𝟎𝟐) = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟒𝟔𝟏. Thus, 𝒛 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟐.

Therefore, 𝒛 = 𝟏. 𝟗𝟔 and −𝒛 = −𝟏. 𝟗𝟔

3.2.2. Converting a Random Variable that is Normally Distributed to a Standard Random Variable

Since there are many normal curves, often it is important to standardize, and refer to a
Standard Normal Distribution where the mean 𝜇 = 0 and 𝜎 = 1. The standardize score which is
usually denoted by z is shown below
𝑥−𝜇
𝑧= ,
𝜎

the effect of this is to change any normal distribution to the Standard Normal Distribution.

Any variable which is normally distributed their individual score can be converted into a
corresponding Z score. Standardized observations provide an indication as to how many standard
deviations an observation falls either below or above the mean.
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Example: For a normally distributed data, compute the values of z given that the mean score is 42,
variance is 81 and the score is 55.

Given: 𝜇 = 42,
𝜎 2 = 81 {Since the given is variance, we have to convert it in standard deviation by
simply getting the square root of the variance that is, 𝜎 = √𝜎 2 = √81 = 9},
and
𝑥 = 55

Solution:

𝑥 − 𝜇 55 − 42 13
𝑧= = = = 1.44
𝜎 9 9

The value of z is 1.44.

Note: Always round your answer to tenths place or two decimal places.

3.2.3. Applications of Normal Distribution

Example. In the previous midterm examination in Statistics, a total of 160 students took the said
examination. If their scores are normally distributed with 𝜇 = 22 and 𝜎 = 5. Find the following:
(a) Probability of students who obtain a score between 24 to 30.
(b) Number of students whose scores are greater than 31.
(c) If your teacher wishes to give a 1.0 grade of those students obtain a score in the 90 th percentile or
higher, what is the minimum score?

Solution:
(a) Asked: 𝑃(24 < 𝑋 < 30) =?
Given: 𝜇 = 22, 𝜎 = 5 , 𝑥1 = 24, 𝑥2 = 30

𝑥1 − 𝜇 24 − 22
𝑧1 = = = 0.4
𝜎 5
𝑥2 − 𝜇 30 − 22
𝑧2 = = = 1.6
𝜎 5

Solution: 𝑃(24 < 𝑋 < 30) = 𝑃(0.4 < 𝑍 < 1.6) = 𝑃(𝑍 < 1.6) − 𝑃(𝑍 < 0.4)
= 0.9452 − 0.6554 = 0.2898
Conclusion: The probability of students who obtain a score between 24 to 30 is 0.2898.

(b) Asked: 𝑃(𝑋 > 31) =?

Given: 𝜇 = 22, 𝜎 = 5 , 𝑥 = 31

𝑥 − 𝜇 31 − 22
𝑧= = = 1.8
𝜎 5

Solution: 𝑃(𝑋 > 31) = 𝑃(𝑍 > 1.8) = 1 − 𝑃(𝑍 < 1.8) = 1 − 0.9641 = 0.0359

To get the number of students whose scores are greater than 31, multiply the probability which is
0.0359 to 160 students, that is, 0.0359 × 160 = 5.744 ≈ 6.

Conclusion: There are 6 students whose scores are greater than 31.

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(c) Asked: 𝑥 =?
Given: 𝜇 = 22, 𝜎 = 5 , 𝑃(𝑍 < 𝑧) = 0.90

To find z if the symbol is less than, we scan through the row and column whose intersection value
is equal to 0.90 as shown below

Notice that there is no exact 0.90 in the

table so we have to get the
corresponding average z-values of
0.8997 and 0.9015, which is 1.28 and
1.29, respectively. The average z-value
1.28+1.29
is 1.285, that is, 2
= 1.285.

Now, 𝑷(𝒁 < 𝟏. 𝟐𝟖𝟓) = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟎. Thus, 𝒛 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟖𝟓.

𝑥−𝜇
Solution: To find x, derive the formula of 𝑧 = 𝜎
, that is,
𝑥−𝜇
𝑧=
𝜎

𝑧𝜎 = 𝑥 − 𝜇

𝑧𝜎 + 𝜇 = 𝑥

So, 𝑥 = 𝑧𝜎 + 𝜇 = 1.285(5) + 22 = 28.425 ≈ 28

Conclusion: The minimum score of students who obtain a score in the 90th percentile or higher is
28.

Second Semester 11 JOBELLE S. SIMBLANTE