Using JMP to calculate and display Binomial probabilities
This example will indicate how to use JMP to produce the table of Binomial probabilities
given in problem 2 of Lab 7. You can adapt the steps to have JMP calculate Binomial
probabilities for any problem.
1. Identify the number of trials, n, and the probability of success on a single trial, p. For
problem 2 of Lab 7 there were 20 trials, rolls of the pair of pig dice so n = 20. A
success is scoring points on a single roll of the pig dice. The probability of a success,
of scoring points on a single roll of the pig dice, is p = 0.783.
2. Start JMP and create a New Data Table with three columns. The first column should
be named, x, the second column named, P(x) and the third column named,
Frequency.
• Enter the values 0, 1, 2, …, n in the column named x.
• Highlight the column named P(x) and go to Cols + Formula. This will open up a
dialog window where you can enter the Binomial probability formula.
• Click on Discrete Probability + Binomial Probability this will enter the following
formula in the formula dialog window.
Binomial Probability (p, n, k)
•
•
•
•
Click on p and enter the value for the probability of success.
Click on n and enter the number of independent trials.
Click on k and double click on x under Table Columns in the upper left of the
dialog window.
Highlight the entire formula and select Numeric + Round and select the number
of decimals you want JMP to round the probabilities to.
The formula the Binomial Probabilities for problem 2 of Lab 7 should look like
Round[Binomial Probability(0.783, 20, x), 4]
• Click on OK.
3. Highlight the column named Frequency and go to Cols + Formula. Click on P(x)
under Table Columns in the upper left corner of the dialog box. Click on the multiply
sign × and enter 10000 in the red highlighted box.
The formula for the Frequency should look like
P(x)*10000
4. To have JMP make a histogram, use Analyze + Distribution. Put x in the Y, Columns
box and Frequency in Freq box. Click on OK. You may have to do some additional
editing of the final graph to get a horizontal display and a probability axis and
individual bars for each possible value of x.
1
x
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
P(x)
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0002
0.0009
0.0037
0.0122
0.0329
0.0730
0.1318
0.1902
0.2144
0.1821
0.1095
0.0416
0.0075
Frequency
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
9
37
122
329
730
1318
1902
2144
1821
1095
416
75
Distributions
x
0.15
0.10
Probability
0.20
0.05
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 11
12 13
14
15 16
17 18
19 20
21
Moments
Mean
Std Dev
N
15.66
1.843
10000
2