What are the mean and standard deviation of a binomial probability distribution with n=120 and p=3/4 ?

1 Answer
Dec 31, 2015

Mean 90
Standard deviation sqrt{45/2}

Explanation:

mu = np

= (120)*(3/4)

= 90

sigma = sqrt{np(1-p)}

= sqrt{120*(3/4)*(1/4)}

= 3sqrt{5/2}

If the random variable X follows the binomial distribution with parameters n in NN and p in [0,1], the probability of getting exactly k successes in n trials, is given by

"Pr"(X=k) = nC_k*p^k*(1-p)^{n-k}

The mean is calculated from "E"(X).

The standard deviation comes from the square root of the variance, "Var"(X) = "E"(X^2)-["E"(X)]^2

Where

"E"(X) = sum_{k=0}^n k*"Pr"(X=k)

"E"(X^2) = sum_{k=0}^n k^2*"Pr"(X=k)