Analyzing the Setup
In a binomial distribution, we deal with two fundamental parameters: the mean m=np and the variance v=npq. These are the DNA of the distribution, where the mean represents the expected outcome and the variance measures the fluctuation.
We are given the following system of equations:
m+v=82.5
mv=1350
The Algebraic Shortcut
While substitution is possible, we can utilize the elegance of Vieta's formulas. If m and v are the roots of a quadratic equation, that equation takes the form t2−(m+v)t+mv=0.
Substituting our known values, we obtain:
t2−82.5t+1350=0
To simplify the arithmetic and clear the decimal, we multiply the entire equation by
2:
2t2−165t+2700=0
Solving the Quadratic
We now factorize the quadratic equation 2t2−165t+2700=0. We seek two numbers that multiply to 5400 and add to −165, which are −120 and −45.
Rewriting the equation:
2t2−120t−45t+2700=0
Factoring by grouping:
2t(t−60)−45(t−60)=0
(2t−45)(t−60)=0
This yields two potential roots: t=22.5 and t=60.
The Critical Insight
We must determine which value corresponds to the mean and which to the variance. Recall that v=mq, where q is the probability of failure.
Since
0≤q≤1, it follows that
v≤m. Therefore, we must assign the values as follows:
m=60
v=22.5
Final Calculation
Now that we have identified
m and
v, we calculate
q:
q=mv=6022.5=83
Since
p+q=1, we find
p:
p=1−83=85
Finally, we use the definition of the mean
m=np to solve for
n:
60=n×85
n=560×8=96
The number of trials is n=96.