What is a Binomial Experiment? Definition and Examples


What is a binomial experiment? A binomial experiment is an experiment that has the following features:

  • The experiment has repeated trials
  • Each trial has two possible outcomes. One of these two outcomes is called a success and the other is called a failure.
  • The probability of success is the same for each trial.

Examples of binomial experiments


Example 1

Tossing a die fifteen times in order to see how many times the die will land on 4 is a binomial experiment.

  • The experiment has repeated trials. In this case, the number of trials is fifteen.
  • Each trial can either result in a success (The die lands on 4) or a failure (The die lands on 1, 2, 3, 5, or 6). 
  • The probability of success is always 1 / 6 each time the die is tossed. 

Example 2

Guessing the answers to ten questions on a true or false test is a binomial experiment.

  • The experiment has repeated trials. In this case, the number of trials is ten.
  • Each trial can either result in a success (The answer is correct) or a failure (The answer is incorrect). 
  • The probability of success is always 1 / 2 each time you guess on a question. 
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.
Share this page: