Monday, June 2, 2014

Normal Approximation of the Binomial Distribution in Excel 2101 and Excel 2013

This is one of the following four articles on the Binomial Distribution in Excel

Overview of the Binomial Distribution in Excel 2010 and Excel 2013

Solving Problems With the Binomial Distribution in Excel 2010 and Excel 2013

Normal Approximation of the Binomial Distribution in Excel 2010 and Excel 2013

Distributions Related to the Binomial Distribution

 

Normal Approximation of

the Binomial

Distribution in Excel

For certain values of n and p, the binomial distribution can be closely approximated by the normal distribution. This allows for quick and easy normal-distribution-based hypothesis testing and confidence interval creation for sample data that are binomially distributed.

There are several different guidelines specifying the ranges of n and p that are appropriate for approximation of the binomial distribution with the normal distribution. The normal approximation of the binomial distribution works when n is large enough and p and q are not close to zero.

The most widely-applied guideline is the following: np > 5 and nq > 5. Other sources state that normal approximation of the binomial distribution is appropriate only when np > 10 and nq > 10. this manual will utilize the first rule-of-thumb mentioned here, i.e., np > 5 and nq > 5.

Each unique binomial distribution is completely described by its two parameters n (number of trials) and p probability of success in each trial). Each unique normal distribution is completely described by its two parameters μ (mean) and σ (standard deviation).

For the appropriate ranges of n and p, the normal distribution approximates the binomial distribution by substituting np for μ and normal approximation, binomial distribution, excel, excel 2010, excel 2013, statistics,binomial,normal distribution for σ.

The Excel formula to calculate the PDF for the normal distribution at X is given as follows:

NORM.DIST(X,μ,σ,FALSE)

The Excel formula to calculate the PDF for the binomial distribution at X is given as follows:

BINOM.DIST(X,n,p,FALSE)

This is closely approximated for the appropriate ranges of n and p with the normal distribution in Excel as follows:

NORM.DIST(X,np,SQRT(npq),FALSE)

The CDF is calculated by substituting TRUE for FALSE in the Excel formula.

Following is a comparison of the normal approximation of the binomial distribution as n increases. Both the PDF and the CDF for binomial distribution and the normal distribution’s approximation are calculated. The PDF is very close even at low values of n. The CDF remains significantly different in this case until n has reached 80.

normal approximation, binomial distribution, excel, excel 2010, excel 2013, statistics,binomial,normal distribution,continuity correction
(Click On Image To See a Larger Version)

 

Continuity Correction

The continuity correction is an addition of 0.5 to the normal CDF’s X value. This makes the normal CDF more closely approximate the binomial CDF. The continuity correction of 0.5 is added to X to calculate the normal CDF in the following Excel chart. It can be seen that the normal CDF is a significantly better approximation of the binomial CDF with the continuity correction than without it.

A continuity correction factor of +0.5 is applied to the X value when using a continuous function (the normal distribution) to approximate the CDF of a discrete function (the binomial distribution).

The binomial’s CDF is calculated in Excel by this formula:

BINOM.DIST(X,n,p,TRUE)

The normal approximation would now be calculated by the following formula with the continuity correction of 0.5 added to X

NORM.DIST(X+0.5,np,SQRT(npq),TRUE)

normal approximation, binomial distribution, excel, excel 2010, excel 2013, statistics,binomial,normal distribution,continuity correction
(Click On Image To See a Larger Version)

The continuity correction is much less important than it used to be. Exact values of the binomial’s PDF and CDF can be calculated with specific Excel formulas. The normal approximation of the binomial distribution allows for quick and easy normal-distribution-based analysis tools such as hypothesis testing and confidence intervals to be applied to binomially-distributed data. The continuity correction is not used when performing these techniques.

 

Excel Master Series Blog Directory

 

Click Here To See a List Of All

Statistical Topics And Articles In

This Blog

 

You Will Become an Excel Statistical Master!

2 comments:

  1. Before you start gambling for real money aici you should take the time to read the rules enough times to know the game inside and out. Without a solid understanding of the basics, you won’t be able properly grasp advanced strategy.

    ReplyDelete