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.

Other normal approximations

There is a less commonly used approximation which is the normal approximation to the Poisson distribution , which uses a similar rationale than that for the Poisson distribution.