The hypergeometric distribution describes the probability of drawing a specific number of successes from a finite population without replacement. It is useful in scenarios such as quality control, card games, and ecological sampling where the population size is known and sampling is done without putting items back.
If a population of size N contains K items classified as successes, and we draw n items at random, the random variable X (the number of successes in the sample) follows a hypergeometric distribution. The probability mass function is given by the formula below.
The distribution is discrete and its mean and variance are useful for estimating expected outcomes and variability. Understanding this distribution helps analysts make informed decisions when dealing with limited resources and nonβreplacement sampling.
What is a hypergeometric distribution?
When would I use this calculator?
How does the hypergeometric distribution differ from the binomial distribution?
What are K, N, and n in the hypergeometric distribution formula?
Can this calculator handle large populations?
What does the random variable X represent in this distribution?
Is there a limit to the number of items I can draw (n)?
Results are for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional advice.
