BINOMDIST function

Returns the individual term binomial distribution probability. Use BINOMDIST in problems with a fixed number of tests or trials, when the outcomes of any trial are only success or failure, when trials are independent, and when the probability of success is constant throughout the experiment. For example, BINOMDIST can calculate the probability that two of the next three babies born are male.

 Important   This function has been replaced with one or more new functions that may provide improved accuracy and whose names better reflect their usage. Although this function is still available for backward compatibility, you should consider using the new functions from now on, because this function may not be available in future versions of Excel.

For more information about the new function, see BINOM.DIST function.

Syntax

BINOMDIST(number_s,trials,probability_s,cumulative)

The BINOMDIST function syntax has the following arguments (argument: A value that provides information to an action, an event, a method, a property, a function, or a procedure.):

  • Number_s     Required. The number of successes in trials.
  • Trials     Required. The number of independent trials.
  • Probability_s     Required. The probability of success on each trial.
  • Cumulative     Required. A logical value that determines the form of the function. If cumulative is TRUE, then BINOMDIST returns the cumulative distribution function, which is the probability that there are at most number_s successes; if FALSE, it returns the probability mass function, which is the probability that there are number_s successes.

Remarks

  • Number_s and trials are truncated to integers.
  • If number_s, trials, or probability_s is nonnumeric, BINOMDIST returns the #VALUE! error value.
  • If number_s < 0 or number_s > trials, BINOMDIST returns the #NUM! error value.
  • If probability_s < 0 or probability_s > 1, BINOMDIST returns the #NUM! error value.
  • If x = number_s, n = trials, and p = probability_s, then the binomial probability mass function is:

Equation

where:

Equation

is COMBIN(n,x).

  • If x = number_s, n = trials, and p = probability_s, then the cumulative binomial distribution is:

Equation

Example

The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.

ShowHow do I copy an example?

  1. Select the example in this article. If you are copying the example in Excel Web App, copy and paste one cell at a time.Important Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help

Selecting an example from Help

  1. Press CTRL+C.
  2. Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
  3. In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V. If you are working in Excel Web App, repeat copying and pasting for each cell in the example.

Important For the example to work properly, you must paste it into cell A1 of the worksheet.

  1. To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, click the Show Formulas button.

After you copy the example to a blank worksheet, you can adapt it to suit your needs.

 
1
2
3
4
5
6
A B
Data Description
6 Number of successes in trials
10 Number of independent trials
0.5 Probability of success on each trial
Formula Description (Result)
=BINOMDIST(A2,A3,A4,FALSE) Probability of exactly 6 of 10 trials being successful (0.205078)
 
 
Applies to:
Excel 2010, Excel Web App, SharePoint Online for enterprises, SharePoint Online for professionals and small businesses