# Normal Approximation for the Binomial Distribution

Instructions: Compute Binomial probabilities using Normal Approximation. Please type the population proportion of success p, and the sample size n, and provide details about the event you want to compute the probability for (notice that the numbers that define the events need to be integer. Also, if the event contains the sign "<", make sure to replace it by the equivalent event using $$\le$$. For example, if you need $$\Pr(X < 6)$$, compute instead $$\Pr(X \le 5)$$):

Population proportion (p) =
Sample Size (n) =
Two-Tailed:
≤ X ≤
Left-Tailed:
X ≤
Right-Tailed:
X ≥

## Binomial Probability Calculator using Normal Approximation

For a random variable $$X$$ with a Binomial distribution with parameters $$p$$ and $$n$$, the population mean and population variance are computed as follows:

$\mu = n \cdot p$ $\sigma = \sqrt{n \cdot p \cdot (1 - p)}$

When the sample size $$n$$ is large enough, and/or when $$p$$ is close to $$\frac{1}{2}$$, then $$X$$ is approximately normally distributed. But in order to approximate a Binomial distribution (a discrete distribution) with a normal distribution (a continuous distribution), a so called continuity correction needs to be conducted. Specifically, a Binomial event of the form

$\Pr(a \le X \le b)$

will be approximated by a normal event like

$\Pr(a - \frac{1}{2} \le X_{Normal} \le b + \frac{1}{2})$

Using the above binomial distribution curve calculator, we can approximate the probabilities of the form $$\Pr(a \le X \le b)$$, of the form $$\Pr(X \le b)$$ or of the form $$\Pr(X \ge a)$$. This can be practical when attempting to make hand calculations that would involve large intervals, which would imply calculating many individual probabilities. For an exact Binomial probability calculator, please check this one out, where the probability is exact, not normally approximated..

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