10/10/21, 11:03 PM * Binomial probability formula (practice) | Khan Academy

Math · AP®︎/College Statistics · Random variables and probability distributions

· Introduction to the binomial distribution

Binomial probability formula

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A small college has 800 students, 10% of which are left-handed. Suppose they take an SRS of 8
students. Let L = the number of left-handed students in the sample.

Which of the following would find P (L = 2)?

Math AP®︎/College
Statistics Random variables Choose 1 answer:
and probability distributions
Introduction to the binomial 800
A ( ) (0.10)2 (0.90)6
distribution 8
Introduction to the binomial
distribution 8
B ( ) (0.10)6 (0.90)2
2
probability distribution

8
Graphing basketball C ( ) (0.10)2 (0.90)6
binomial distribution 2

Binompdf and binomcdf D (0.10)6 (0.90)2

functions

Binomial probability E (0.10)2 (0.90)6 2 of 4 Check

(basic)
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Practice: Binomial 1/4

Probability of 2 successes
probability formula
We want the probability that there are 2 successes (left-handed students) in 8 trials
Practice: Calculating (number of students sampled), so we're going to need 6 failures (not left-handed
binomial probability students) as well. The probability of each success is 0.10 and the probability of each
failure is 0.90. Since we're sampling less than 10% of the population, we can assume
independence and multiply probabilities to find the probability of getting 2 successes
Next lesson followed by 6 failures:

P (SSFFFFFF) = (0.10) (0.10) (0.90) (0.90) … (0.90)

2 6
= (0.10) (0.90)

The binomial coefficient ( )

2/4 n
k
SSFFFFFF isn't the only arrangement that produces 2 successes in 8 trials. For instance,
FFFFFFSS would also produce the desired outcome. To count how many possible

arrangements there are, we use the binomial coefficient ( ) . It tells us the number of
n
k
possible arrangements for k successes in n trials.

In this problem, we want k = 2 successes (left-handed students) in n = 8 trials (number

8
of students sampled), so we should use the binomial coefficient ( ) .
2

[Got it, thanks!]

We don't need to actually calculate it for this problem, but the binomial coefficient tell us
how many ways there are to arrange 2 successes in 8 trials. For instance, SSFFFFFF or
FFFFFFSS are a few of the ways, but how many total ways are there? Here's the formula
and calculations:
2 of 4 Check
No calculator:

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10/10/21, 11:03 PM * Binomial probability formula (practice) | Khan Academy

( )=
n n!
k (n − k)! ⋅ k!
​

8 8!
( )=
2 (8 − 2)! ⋅ 2!
​

8⋅7⋅ 6⋅5⋅4⋅3⋅2⋅1
=
( 6 ⋅ 5 ⋅ 4 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 1) ⋅ 2 ⋅ 1
​

= 28

Calculator:

8 C2 = 28

So, there are 28 distinct arrangements of 2 successes in 8 trials.

3/4 Putting it together

Each arrangement has probability (0.10)2 (0.90)6 so for our final answer we multiply
this probability by the number of possible arrangements:

8
( ) (0.10)2 (0.90)6
2
4/4 The answer:

8
( ) (0.10)2 (0.90)6
2

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