BINOMDIST

The BINOMDIST function calculates the probability of a specified number of successes in a set number of trials. Each trial must have the same probability of success. This function is useful in statistical analysis.

Syntax 🔗

=BINOMDIST(number_s, trials, probability_s, cumulative)

number_s The number of successful outcomes to find the probability for.
trials The number of independent trials.
probability_s The probability of success on each trial.
cumulative A logical value that determines the type of distribution to use. If TRUE, it calculates the cumulative distribution function; if FALSE, it calculates the probability mass function (default).

About BINOMDIST 🔗

Use the BINOMDIST function in Excel to calculate the probability of a specific number of successes in a series of trials. It's useful in scenarios with discrete probabilities, such as evaluating repeated independent events. Provide the number of successful outcomes, the total number of trials, and the probability of success in each trial. The optional cumulative argument lets you choose between the probability mass function and the cumulative distribution function. This function is helpful for tasks like quality control, statistical analysis, and decision-making under uncertainty.

Examples 🔗

Suppose you have a fair coin, and you want to find the probability of getting exactly 3 heads out of 5 flips. The probability of success (getting heads) on each flip is 0.5. To calculate the probability, you can use the formula: =BINOMDIST(3, 5, 0.5, FALSE). This will provide you with the probability of getting exactly 3 heads out of 5 flips.

In another scenario, let's say you're conducting a quality control test, and there's a 20% chance of a defect occurring in each widget produced. If you want to find the cumulative probability of having 2 or fewer defects in a batch of 10 widgets, you can use the formula: =BINOMDIST(2, 10, 0.2, TRUE). This will yield the cumulative probability for having 2 or fewer defects in the given batch of 10 widgets.

Notes 🔗

Ensure that the number_s, trials, and probability_s arguments are non-negative numbers. The probability_s should be between 0 and 1. The cumulative argument accepts TRUE or FALSE to determine the type of distribution to calculate.

Questions 🔗

What does the cumulative argument in the BINOMDIST function control?

The cumulative argument in the BINOMDIST function determines the type of distribution to calculate. When set to TRUE, it computes the cumulative distribution function, providing the probability of obtaining up to number_s successful outcomes in trials trials. When set to FALSE (or omitted), it calculates the probability mass function, giving the probability of exactly number_s successful outcomes in trials trials.

Can I use the BINOMDIST function for continuous probability distributions?

No, the BINOMDIST function is specifically designed for use with discrete probability distributions, where the outcomes are limited to a fixed number of discrete categories, such as success or failure in a series of independent trials.

How should I interpret the output from the BINOMDIST function?

The output of the BINOMDIST function represents the probability of achieving the specified number of successful outcomes in the given number of trials, based on the provided probability of success on each trial. It provides valuable insights into the likelihood of particular outcomes in repetitive, independent events.

POISSON
NEGBINOM.DIST
HYPGEOM.DIST
BINOM.INV

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