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Binomial Probability
"At Most" and "At Least"
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When computing "at least" and "at most" probabilities, it is necessary to consider,
in addition to the given probability,
     • all probabilities larger than the given probability ("at least")
     • all probabilities smaller than the given probability ("at most")
The probability of an event, p,
occurring
exactly r times:
               ff
 n
= number of trials
 r = number of specific events you wish to obtain
 p = probability that the event will occur
 q = probability that the event will not occur
(q = 1 - p, the complement of the event)
fAlternative formula form

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Illustration:
A bag contains 6 red Bingo chips, 4 blue Bingo chips, and 7 white Bingo chips. What is the probability of drawing a red Bingo chip at least 3 out of 5 times? Round answer to the nearest hundredth.

To solve this problem, we need to find the probabilities that r could be 3 or 4 or 5,
to satisfy the condition "at least".
It will be necessary to compute f
for r = 3, r = 4 and r = 5 (which means do the formula three times)
and add these three probabilities for the final answer.
Written in summation notation, we need to compute:
d

For r = 3: d
For r = 4: f
For r = 5: s
Sum: 0.184 + 0.050 + 0.005 = 0.239
rounded to the nearest hundredth = 0.24  ANS

Note: it may be helpful to remember in this problem that
"at most 2 successes" is the compliment of "at least 3 successes".


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In the following examples, answers will be rounded to the nearest hundredth.

ex1    A family consists of 3 children.  What is the probability that at most 2 of the children are boys? 

Solution:
"At most" 2 boys implies that there could be 0, 1, or 2 boys. The probability of a boy child (or a girl child) is 1/2.

For r = 0: d
For r = 1: f
For r = 2: s
Sum: .125 + .375 + .375 = .875
rounded to the nearest hundredth = 0.88  ANS
children3

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ex2 Team A and Team B are playing in a league.  They will play each other five times.  If the probability that team A wins a game is 1/3, what is the probability that team A will win at least three of the five games?
Solution:
"At least" 3 wins implies 3, 4, or 5 wins.
For r = 3: a
For r = 4: d
For r = 5: f
Sum: rounded to the nearest hundredth = 0.21  ANS
soccer

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ex3 As shown in the accompanying diagram, a circular target with a radius of 9 inches has a bull's-eye that has a radius of 3 inches.  If five arrows randomly hit the target, what is the probability that at least four hit the bull's-eye?  Express answer to the nearest thousandth.
cir
Solution:
"At least" 4 hits implies 4 or 5 hits.  The area of the bull's-eye is 9π and the area of the entire target is 81π.  The probability of hitting the desired bull's-eye is 1/9.
For r = 4: a
For r = 5: s
Sum: rounded to the nearest thousandth = 0.001  ANS

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ti84c
For working
with
Bernoulli Trials
on your
calculator,
click here.
MathBits Calculator Pages
ti84c
For working
with At Most
At Least
on your
calculator,
click here.
MathBits Calculator Pages

 

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