SOLUTION: If X~B(8,0.5), find P(X < 4)

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Question 1192211: If X~B(8,0.5), find P(X < 4)

Answer by math_tutor2020(3817) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

X~B(8,0.5) means the random variable X is a binomial random variable with these parameters
n = 8 = sample size
p = 0.5 = probability of success

The probability function is
P(x) = (n C x)*(p)^x*(1-p)^(n-x)
P(x) = (8 C x)*(0.5)^x*(1-0.5)^(8-x)
P(x) = (8 C x)*(0.5)^x*(0.5)^(8-x)
The n C x refers to the nCr combination formula notation.

Plug in x = 0
P(x) = (8 C x)*(0.5)^x*(0.5)^(8-x)
P(0) = (8 C 0)*(0.5)^0*(0.5)^(8-0)
P(0) = (1)*(0.5)^0*(0.5)^8
P(0) = 0.00390625

Repeat for the the x values from x = 1 to x = 3
You should get these results
XP(X)
00.00390625
10.03125
20.109375
30.21875
Then we can say:
P(X < 4) = P(0) + P(1) + P(2) + P(3)
P(X < 4) = 0.00390625 + 0.03125 + 0.109375 + 0.21875
P(X < 4) = 0.36328125