Probability distribution facts for kids

The normal distribution, often called the "bell curve", shows how data can be spread out.

A probability distribution is a way to show all the possible results of a random event. It also tells us how likely each result is. Think of it like a map that tells you the chances of different things happening. It's used in mathematics to understand things that have random outcomes.

Imagine you're flipping a coin or rolling a dice. You don't know exactly what will happen each time. A probability distribution helps us predict what should happen over many tries. It's different from a frequency distribution, which just tells you what did happen in the past.

Probability distributions can be for things that have a specific number of outcomes. For example, rolling a dice can only give you 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. These are called discrete distributions. Or they can be for things that can have any value within a range. For example, measuring someone's height. These are called continuous distributions.

Understanding Dice Roll Probabilities

Let's look at rolling a normal 6-sided dice. Each side has an equal chance of landing face up.

Probability distribution for a dice roll event

Result
Probability of result

This table shows that for each number (1 to 6), the chance of it appearing is 1 out of 6. If you roll a dice 60 times, you would expect each side to appear about 10 times on average.

Different Types of Distributions

There are many different types of probability distributions. Each one is useful for different situations. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses. Some common probability distributions include:

• Binomial distribution
• Cauchy distribution
• Chi-square distribution
• Exponential distribution
• Gumbel distribution
• Normal distribution
• Poisson distribution
• Student's t-distribution

Related pages

• Probability density function

Images for kids

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  The left image shows the probability density function. The right image shows the cumulative distribution function. The value at a on the right equals the area under the curve to the left of a on the left.

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  This image shows one solution for the Rabinovich–Fabrikant equations. It helps us think about the probability of observing a certain state in a specific area.

See also

In Spanish: Distribución de probabilidad para niños