The Normal Approximation for the Binomial Distribution
This applet lets you examine the Binomial(n,p) distribution. It also lets you discover the relationship between a binomial distribution and its normal approximation.
Exploration Instructions
1. Change n and p to see how the distribution changes. Try many combinations.
2. What does the binomial distribution look like when p is close to 0 or 1?
3. What does it look like when p is close to 0.5?
4. Click the box to show the normal approximation distribution.
5. What does the normal approximation look like when p is close to 0 or 1? to 0.5?
6. What does the normal approximation look like when n < 30? when n > 30?
7. Choose a value for X that is within the range of your current distribution.
8. What is P(X) for the binomial? How does P(X) compare when estimated by the normal?
9. How are the binomial and normal approximation related?