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Excel Functions for Discrete Distributions - Copy

The document provides an overview of various Excel functions for discrete probability distributions, including Binomial, Negative Binomial, Geometric, Hypergeometric, and Poisson distributions. Each function is explained with its syntax and examples demonstrating how to calculate cumulative probabilities and other relevant metrics. Key functions include BINOM.DIST, BINOM.INV, NEGBINOM.DIST, HYPGEOM.DIST, and POISSON.DIST.

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5 views4 pages

Excel Functions for Discrete Distributions - Copy

The document provides an overview of various Excel functions for discrete probability distributions, including Binomial, Negative Binomial, Geometric, Hypergeometric, and Poisson distributions. Each function is explained with its syntax and examples demonstrating how to calculate cumulative probabilities and other relevant metrics. Key functions include BINOM.DIST, BINOM.INV, NEGBINOM.DIST, HYPGEOM.DIST, and POISSON.DIST.

Uploaded by

raresdynu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Statistics and Data Analysis with Excel

Excel Functions for Discrete Distributions


Charlie Nuttelman

BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION

BINOM.DIST(number_s,trials,probability_s,cumulative) – Provides the cumulative frequency (left-


tailed) (if cumulative is TRUE) corresponding to the binomial distribution with trials number of trials and
probability of success probability_s to the left of number_s. It is rare to use FALSE as the final argument
unless you want to generate a plot of f(x) in Excel.

Example: The area of to the left of and including 2 below the binomial distribution with 8 trials and
probability of success 0.5 is: BINOM.DIST(2,8,0.5,TRUE) = 0.144

BINOM.INV(trials,probability_s,alpha) – Returns the smallest value for which the cumulative binomial
distribution is greater than or equal to alpha. Outputs the x-value (number of successes) that has at
least alpha proportion to the left of it based on the binomial distribution with trials number of trials and
probability of success probability_s.

For example, BINOM.INV(8,0.5,0.05) = 2. I’ll attempt to explain this a little bit here. The cumulative
binomial distribution up to 1 success (out of 8) is equal to: BINOM.DIST(1,8,0.5,TRUE) = 0.035. The
cumulative binomial distribution up to 2 successes (out of 8) is equal to (see above):
BINOM.DIST(2,8,0.5,TRUE) = 0.144. The BINOM.INV function outputs the minimum number of trials
whose cumulative distribution is at least alpha. Since alpha = 0.05 lies between the cumulative
probabilities for 1 and 2 successes, we must round up to 2, which is the output of the function.

NEGATIVE BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION

NEGBINOM.DIST(number_f,number_s,probability_s,cumulative) – Outputs the left-tailed, cumulative


probability [F(x)] of the negative binomial distribution up to number_s (if cumulative = TRUE) based on
Statistics and Data Analysis with Excel

number_f failures, number_s successes, with probability of success probability_s. If cumulative =


FALSE, it outputs f(x), the probability density function.

Example: If we need 3 successes (r = 3), the area up to and including x = 6 (3 rd success in at most 6 total
trials) of the negative binomial distribution with probability of success = 0.5 is:

NEGBINOM.DIST(3,3,0.5,TRUE) = 0.656

Note that 𝑥 ≥ 𝑟. For example, we cannot have 3 successes in 2 trials.

There is no .INV version of the negative binomial function in Excel (i.e., there is no NEGBINOM.INV
function).

GEOMETRIC DISTRIBUTION

There is no “GEOM.DIST” function in Excel. However, since the geometric distribution is a special case
of the negative binomial distribution with only 1 success in x number of trials, we can use the
NEGBINOM.DIST function with the number of successes equal to 1:
NEGBINOM.DIST(number_f,1,probability_s,cumulative)

Example: The probability of obtaining the first success in at most 5 trials (area up to and including x = 8
in the negative binomial distribution with r = 1) with probability of success 0.3 is given by:

NEGBINOM.DIST(4,1,0.3,TRUE) = 0.832

HYPERGEOMETRIC DISTRIBUTION

HYPGEOM.DIST(sample_s,number_sample,population_s,number_pop,cumulative) – Outputs the left-


tailed, cumulative probability [F(x)] of the hypergeometric distribution up to number of successes in the
sample sample_s (if cumulative = TRUE) based on sample size number_sample, population_s successes
in the population, and population size number_pop. If cumulative = FALSE, it outputs f(x), the
probability density function.
Statistics and Data Analysis with Excel

Example: The probability of obtaining 0 or 1 successes in a sample of size 4 drawn from a population of
size 20 that contains 5 successes is:

HYPGEOM.DIST(1,4,5,20,TRUE) = 0.751

Note that it wouldn’t make sense for sample_s to be greater than population_s.

POISSON DISTRIBUTION

POISSON.DIST(x,mean,cumulative) – Outputs the left-tailed, cumulative probability [F(x)] of the Poisson


distribution up to x (if cumulative = TRUE) based on mean of the Poisson distribution. The parameter
mean is equal to the product of 𝜆 and interval 𝑇: mean = 𝜆𝑇. If cumulative = FALSE, it outputs f(x), the
probability density function.
Statistics and Data Analysis with Excel

Example: The probability that x will be less than or equal to 3 given a mean of 4 is:

POISSON.DIST(3,4,TRUE) = 0.433

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