In this post, we will learn binomial distribution with 10+ examples. The following topics will be covered in this post:

• What is Binomial Distribution?
• 10+ Examples of Binomial Distribution

If you are an aspiring data scientist looking forward to learning/understand the binomial distribution in a better manner, this post might be very helpful.

## What is a Binomial Distribution?

The binomial distribution is a discrete probability distribution that represents the probabilities of binomial random variables in a binomial experiment.

### What is an Experiment?

An experiment is nothing but a set of repeated trials resulting in a particular outcome out of many. Thus, an experiment could consist of 5 trials, 10 trials, 20 trials. Sighting real-world examples, an experiment could be tossing a coin 10 times (10 trials), taking 10 items for examining whether the items are defective, etc.

### What is a Random Variable?

A random variable is nothing but a variable that could take random values in an experiment. Let’s say, the variable of the number of defective items found in 100 items picked randomly. There could be multiple experiments comprising of randomly sampling 100 items and counting the number of defective items.

• In the 1st experiment, 5 items are found to be defective.
• In the 2nd experiment, 9 items are found to be defective.

Thus, the variable that the number of items is found defective takes RANDOM value. We call such variables as RANDOM VARIABLE. The random variable is also represented by a letter, X.

When the value of the random variable can only take finite values, the random variable can also be called a random discrete variable. When the value of the random variable can take infinite values, the random variable can also be called a random continuous variable.

The all possible values (or outcomes) that a random variable can take is also called as sample space.

### What is a Binomial Random Variable?

In the binomial experiment, the outcome of each trial in an experiment could take one of the two values which are either success or failure. In other words, the outcome of each trial gets classified according to two levels of a categorical variable. For example, in tossing a coin, the outcome could be either success (HEADS) or failure (TAILS). In finding defective items, the outcome could be either success (item is defective) or failure (item is non-defective). In rolling a die, the outcome could be either success (one of the numbers out of 1-6 (say, six-6)) or failure (any of the numbers except) otherwise.

The outcome of interest in a trial of an experiment is often termed as a success.

The binomial random variable could be the number of successes in an experiment. Thus, the following are some examples of a binomial random variable:

• Number of successes (heads) in an experiment of 10 trials of tossing a coin; Here the sample space is {0, 1, 2, …10}
• Number of successes (six) in an experiment of 10 trials of rolling a die; Here the sample space is {0, 1, 2, …10}
• Number of successes (defective items) in an experiment of 10 trials of examining 10 items; Here the sample space is {0, 1, 2, …10}

### What is a Binomial experiment?

The requirements for a random experiment to be a Binomial experiment are as following:

• A fixed number (n) of trials
• Each trial must be independent of the others
• Each trial must result in one of the two possible outcomes, called “success” (the outcome of interest) or “failure”.
• There is a constant probability (p) of success for each trial, the complement of which is the probability (1 – p) of failure, sometimes denoted as q = (1 – p)

### What is Binomial Distribution?

Binomial distribution is a type of discrete probability distribution representing probabilities of different values of the binomial random variable (X) in repeated independent N trials in an experiment. Thus, in an experiment comprising of tossing a coin 10 times (N), the binomial random variable (number of heads represented as successes) could take the value of 0-10 and the binomial probability distribution is probability distribution representing the probabilities of a random variable taking the value of 0-10.

The probability that a random variable X with binomial distribution B(n,p) is equal to the value k, where k = 0, 1,….,n, is given by the following formula:

P(X = k) = $$\frac{n!}{k!(n-k)!}p^{k}(1-p)^{(n-k)}$$

The mean and the variance of the binomial distribution of an experiment with n number of trials and the probability of success in each trial is p is following:

Mean = np

Variance = np(1-p)

## 10+ Examples of Binomial Distribution

Here are some examples of Binomial distribution:

• Rolling a die: Probability of getting the number of six (6) (0, 1, 2, 3…50) while rolling a die 50 times; Here, the random variable X is the number of “successes” that is the number of times six occurs. The probability of getting a six is 1/6. The binomial distribution could be represented as B(50,1/6). The diagram below represents the binomial distribution for 100 experiments.

• Tossing a coin: Probability of getting the number of heads (0, 1, 2, 3…50) while tossing a coin 50 times; Here, the random variable X is the number of “successes” that is the number of times heads occurs. The probability of getting a heads is 1/2. Binomial distribution could be represented as B(50,0.5). The diagram below represents the binomial distribution for 100 experiments.

• Defective Items: Probability of finding the number of defective items (0, 1, 2, 3…30) while examining 30 times; Here, the random variable X is the number of “successes” that is the number of times defective item is found out. The probability of finding a defective item is p. Binomial distribution could be represented as B(30,p)
• A person suffering from a disease: Probability of finding 0 or more number of people suffering from a particular disease while examining 100 people; Here, the random variable X is the number of “successes” that is the number of people found to be suffering from a disease. The probability of finding a person suffering from a disease says, p. The binomial distribution could be represented as B(100,p)
• A number of voters voting for PM, Narendra Modi: Probability of finding the number of voters for Prime minister, Narendra Modi while examining 500 voters. Here, the random variable X is the number of “successes” that is the number of people found to be voting for prime minister, Narendra Modi. The probability/proportion of voters who vote for Narendra Modi is, say, 0.7 or 70%. Binomial distribution could be represented as B(500,0.7)
• High-risk Drinking Example: Probability of finding high-risk drinkers when examining 1000 persons. Here, the random variable X is the number of “successes” that is the number of students who are the high-risk drinkers. We can use the binomial probability distribution (i.e., binomial model), to describe this particular variable. Let’s say, the probability/proportion of high-risk drinkers is 0.35 or 35%. The binomial distribution could be represented as B(1000,0.35)
• A number of female voters: Probability of finding female voters when examining 100 voters. Here, the random variable X is the number of “successes” that is the number of voters who are female. We can use the binomial probability distribution (i.e., binomial model), to describe this particular variable. Let’s say, the probability/proportion of voters who are female is 0.45 or 45%. The binomial distribution could be represented as B(100,0.45)
• Students passing the exams: Probability of finding students who passed the exams when examining 50 students. Here, the random variable X is the number of “successes” that is the number of students who passed the exams. Let’s say, the probability/proportion of students passing the exams is 0.78 or 78%. The binomial distribution could be represented as B(50,0.78)
• Drivers having no car insurance: Probability of finding drivers who don’t possess car insurance when examining 100 drivers. Here, the random variable X is the number of “successes” that is the number of drivers who don’t possess the car insurance. Let’s say, the probability/proportion of drivers do not possess car insurance is 0.2 or 20%. The binomial distribution could be represented as B(100,0.20)
• No. of correct answers from multiple-choice questions: Probability of getting right answers out of 20 multiple-choice questions when one out of 4 options were chosen arbitrarily. Here, the random variable X is the number of “successes” that is the number of right answers. Let’s say, the probability/proportion of an answer being right is 1/4 or 0.25 or 25%. The binomial distribution could be represented as B(20,0.25)
• Effects of Medication: Probability of the medication having severe effects when examining 1000 patients. Here, the random variable X is the number of “successes” which is the number of severe effects. Let’s say, the probability/proportion of having a severe effect is 1/5 or 0.2 or 20%. The binomial distribution could be represented as B(100,0.20)

## References

### Ajitesh Kumar

Ajitesh has been recently working in the area of AI and machine learning. Currently, his research area includes Safe & Quality AI. In addition, he is also passionate about various different technologies including programming languages such as Java/JEE, Javascript and technologies such as Blockchain, mobile computing, cloud-native technologies, application security, cloud computing platforms, big data etc.

He has also authored the book, Building Web Apps with Spring 5 and Angular.