Fundamentals 17

f(X) F(X)

1−p p
p
0
x1 x2 x x1 x2 x

Figure 1.10. The probability mass function f(x) and the corresponding cumulative function F(x) for a
double-point Bernoulli distribution.

P(X = 1) = 1 − P(X = 0) = p

This is the particular case of the double-point Bernoulli distribution.

The expected value and the variance for both distributions are the same:

E(X) = p σ2(X) = p(1 – p) (1.38)

If a point of interest is the certain state in which a given technical object can be in given
moment and there are only two possibilities (e.g. two alternative states: work and repair), this
means that this point of interest is the random variable of the double-point Bernoulli distribu-
tion. We may ascribe the notation 1 to the work state and the notation 0 for the repair state.

Binomial distribution
Let X1, X2, …, Xn be independent random variables of the identical double-point Bernoulli
probability distribution with the parameter p. Such a defined sequence of random variables
is called a sequence of independent Bernoulli experiments (trials). It is presumed that if the
random variable Xi takes the value 1 then it is classified as a success. If in the i-th Bernoulli
trial the random variable takes the value 0, it is classified as a failure.
The probability that in n independent Bernoulli trials success occurs exactly k times is
given by the formula:

⎛ n⎞
( k ) = ⎜ ⎟ pk ( p )n − k (1.39)
⎝ k⎠

where ( )=
n
k
n!
k !( n− k )!
is the binomial coefficient.
Formula (1.39) defines the Bernoulli probability function.
An example of the Bernoulli probability density function is shown in Figure 1.11.
The main parameters—the expected value and the variance—of the random variable are
determined as follows:

E(X) = np σ2(X) = np(1 – p) (1.40)

Presume that there is a given mechanised system applied in an underground coal mine and
that this system consists of a shearer, two scraper chain conveyors and a certain number of
belt conveyors that deliver broken coal from the wall to the shaft. The system is observed over
n production shifts and the point of interest is the work state of the system in a given moment
of time in a shift. The probability that the system will be k times (k ≤ n) in the work state in a
given moment is determined by formula (1.39).

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