The negative binomial distributionEdexcel A-Level Further Maths: Mind map
The model
Probabilities
Negative binomial
trials until the rth success
independent
Mean and variance
Series in context
Exam tips
Exam questions on The negative binomial distribution
- A shooter hits the target with probability on each shot, independently of all other shots. Let be the number of shots needed to score hits, so that the third hit occurs on shot .Find the probability that the third hit is scored on or before the fourth shot.2 marks
- A fair six-sided die is rolled repeatedly. Let be the number of rolls up to and including the roll on which the second six appears.Find the probability that more than rolls are needed to obtain the second six.2 marks
- A telesales agent makes a sale on each call with probability , independently of all other calls. Let be the number of calls made up to and including the call on which the fourth sale is made.State the distribution of , and find and .3 marks
Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).