Discrete Distributions

Uniform Distribution
If the random variable X assumes the values
x1 , x2 , , xk
with equal probabilities, then the discrete uniform
distribution is given by

1
P[ X= x=
] ,=
x x1 , x2 , , xk
k

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Binomial Distribution
A r.v X is said to follow Binomial distribution if
the probability mass function is given by
n
P[X = x] = x px qn-x ; x = 0,1,,n
p : prob. of success in a single trial
q : (1-p)
n : no. of trials
P [X=x] : Prob. of obtaining exactly x
successes and (n-x) failures in n trials.
Parameters : n, p
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Conditions
Trials are repeated for a fixed no. of
times.
For each trial, there are only two
possible outcomes, success and failure.
The probability of success in each trial
remains constant and does not change
from trial to trial.
The trials are independent.

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Measures
Mean = np
Variance = npq
Standard deviation = npq
Skewness is +ve for p <
-ve for p >
0 for p =

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 Examples
Example 1
On an average, a machine produces 25% defective items.
Find the probabilities that a random sample of 4 items
consists of (a) no defective item, (b) two defective items.
Example 2
A box containing 50 items has 5 defective items. Find the
prob. of the following if 4 items are drawn with
replacement.
a) exactly 2 defective items b) at least 2 defective items
c) at most 2 defective items

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Example 3
An exam containing ten multiple-choice
questions is designed so that the probability
of a correct choice on any question by
guessing alone is 0.20. What is the
probability that a student will get no more
than six questions right by guessing? What is
the probability that he will get exactly five
questions right? What is the probability that
he will get more than two right?

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 Hypergeometric Distribution
Consider an urn with N balls, M of which are white and N-M
are red. Suppose we draw a sample of n balls at random
without replacement from the urn, then the probability of
getting k white balls out of n is

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 Hypergeometric Distribution

M N M


k n k
N

n

When the population is finite and the sampling is done without

replacement, we obtain Hypergeometric Distribution.

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Definition
A r.v. X is said to follow Hypergeometric
distribution if its p.m.f. is given by
M N M

x n x
P [X = x] =
N

n

where max(0,n-N+M) x min(M,n)

Parameters
N, M and n

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Measures
nM
Mean =
N
nM ( N M ) ( N n)
Variance =
N 2 ( N 1)

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 Measures

When N is large and n is relatively small compared to N,

there is not much difference between sampling with
replacement and sampling without replacement and the
formula for the binomial distribution with the parameters n
and p =M/N may be used to approximate hypergeometric
probabilities. (n < 5% (N))
As N , Hypergeometric Binomial with parameters n
and p = M/N.

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Example 1: Apply without replacement policy in
example 2 of Binomial distribution.
Example 2:
A lot consisting of 50 bulbs is inspected by
taking at random 10 bulbs and testing them.
If the number of defective bulbs is at most 1,
the lot is accepted. If there are 10 defective
bulbs in the lot, what is the probability of
accepting the lot?
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Example
Among the 120 applicants for a job,
only 80 are actually qualified. If five of
the applicants are randomly selected for
an in-depth interview, find the
probability that only two of the five will
be qualified for the job.
Binomial Approximation
Here x=2, n=5, N=120 and M=80.
Therefore, P[X=2]= 0.164

Substituting x=2, n=5 and p=80/120 =

2/3 in the formula of Binomial
distribution, we get
 n n x xn xn x
== x=
PP[[XX x]=
] p pq q
x x
5 5 2 2
2 2 3 3
2 2
== 2]
PP[[XX == 11
2]
2 2 3 3
3 3
==0.165
0.165

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