In Statistics terms a probability means the chances of a desirable event to happen. Finding a probability varies from a simple procedure to a complicated working depending upon the context and the requirements. For example, if you toss a fair coin only once, you can easily say the probability of getting a head (or tail) is just ½.
However, not all events are like tossing a coin a single time. You may have various factors influencing whether the desirable events occur. Also, you may be looking for a probability that is more complex than merely "heads" or "tails".
Mathematicians have worked out various formulas and methods to find different types of probabilities. These methods or algorithms are called probability calculators.
Let us study different types of probability examples and the probability calculators that help us to solve probability problems.
Binomial Probability Calculator
A binomial probability is the probability of getting a favorable outcome when the possible outcomes are only two. As we said earlier, the probability in such cases is ½ for one experiment (trial). It is not related to the concept of the binomial theorem. Determining probability becomes a bit more difficult task as you increase the number of experiments and make more complex the desirable outcome.
In general, P(b/a), the probability of b favorable outcomes out of total possible out comes a, the formula is given by,
If this formula is made as an algorithm in a system, it is a probability calculator. If the same is hosted on a website, then it become an online probability calculator. In such cases all must do is to enter the values of a and b in the specified fields and just read the value of P!
Normal Probability Calculator
In this case, the total number of outcomes is restricted to no more than two. What if the total number of outcomes is much higher?
For example, Robert is a student in a class of 30 students. If all are eligible to become the class leader and the teacher wants to select the class leader at random, the number of total outcomes is 30. Hence John’s probability of being chosen as the class leader is only 1/30.
The probability calculator in this type of problem is given by the probability formula,
where, P(b) is the probability of the desired event b, where n(b) is the possible number of occurrences of event b and where n(a) is the total number of occurrences.
Here again if this formula is made as an algorithm a in system, it is a probability calculator. If the same is hosted on a website, then it becomes an online probability calculator. In such cases all you must do is enter the values of a and b in the specified fields and just read the value of P!
Z Score Probability Calculator
This is a very important concept.
Earlier we said a probability depends on what you define as ‘favorable’ event.
Sometimes a favorable event of ‘z’ times is defined as a function related to the actual score of ‘x’, the mean of the scores ‘m’ and the standard deviation of ‘s’ of a data. They are related as,
z = (x – m)/s.
Hence to decide about the probability favorable to x, first you need to calculate ‘z’ and then determine the probability of ‘z’.
Using the value ‘x’ directly to determine the probability will lead to incorrect results.
Students can also get help with solving their homework problems on probability online.
Probability Topics
Choose your Probability topics below:
Chapter 1: Introduction to probability
Chapter 2: Foundations of probability theory
Chapter 3: Complement of an event
Chapter 4: Mutually exclusive events
Chapter 5: Independent events
Chapter 6: Dependent events
Chapter 7:Conditional probability
Chapter 8: Probability practice exercises
Chapter 9: Geometric probability