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Binomial Distribution
• Discrete

The Binomial Distribution Number of defects

Number of questions answered correctly on a test

Binomial Distribution Binomial Distribution

• Two states for the random variable x • Set number of trials, determined in advance (n)
Defective vs. not defective Number of defective items in the next 10 sampled
Question correct vs. wrong

Number rolled on a die Number of items sampled until we get a defective

Rolling a 4 vs. not rolling a 4 on a die

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Binomial Distribution Binomial Distribution

• Constant probability of success (p) • Constant probability of success (p)
• Rule of thumb for sampling
Rolling a fair die 10 times and counting the 4’s – Population size N> 50
– Number of trials is less than 10% of the population size
(n>.10N)
Basketball game where you take a step closer to the basket each time you miss

Binomial Distribution Requirements Other Discrete Distributions

• A discrete random variable, x, that can take on • Exponential distribution
exactly 2 states • Poisson distribution
• A set number of trials, n • Hypergeometric distribution
• A constant probability of “success”, p, among
the trials