Question

In what kind of situation can a binomial distribution be used to solve for probability?

Answer 1

The binomial distribution can be used when the results of each experiment/trail in the process are yes/no or success/failure.

Explanation:

• Binomial distribution expresses the probability of one set of dichotomous alternatives (simply termed as "success" or "failure") from a fixed number of trials.
• The trials are independent of each other. The outcome of one trial doesn't affect the outcomes of subsequent trials.
• Examples include:
  Probability of getting x number of "Heads" when a coin is tossed n number of times.
  (here the result will be either Success of getting a head, or Failure)

For incidence of a certain disease, the probability that out of n employees in a company, x employees suffer from the disease or not more than x employees suffer from the disease.
(here the result will be either the suffer (YES) from the disease or they don't (NO).

Another example: What is the probability that if a marksman fires n shots, he will have more than 2(or x) hits (or misses)?