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Probability Distributions Cheat Sheet

This document provides a comprehensive overview of discrete and continuous probability distributions, highlighting key ideas, parameters, keywords, and common traps in multiple-choice questions (MCQs). It distinguishes between distributions such as Binomial, Poisson, Geometric, Uniform, Exponential, and Normal, offering guidance on when to use each. Additionally, it includes a bonus summary for practical applications of these distributions in various scenarios.

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2 views2 pages

Probability Distributions Cheat Sheet

This document provides a comprehensive overview of discrete and continuous probability distributions, highlighting key ideas, parameters, keywords, and common traps in multiple-choice questions (MCQs). It distinguishes between distributions such as Binomial, Poisson, Geometric, Uniform, Exponential, and Normal, offering guidance on when to use each. Additionally, it includes a bonus summary for practical applications of these distributions in various scenarios.

Uploaded by

burn0cis73
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Absolutely, Jeswin.

Here's a clean, confusion-free, exam-focused breakdown of the most


common discrete and continuous probability distributions, with traps, keywords, and
MCQ tricks that are often used to confuse students — especially in exams like CCEE,
GATE, UGC NET, or interviews.

📘 Probability Distributions: The Ultimate


Cheat Sheet

🎯 1. DISCRETE DISTRIBUTIONS
Discrete = Countable outcomes (e.g., # of heads, # of arrivals)

Distribution Key Idea Parameters Keywords / Use Case Common MCQ Traps
“Fixed number of
❌ Confused with
# of successes n (trials), p trials”, “how many
Binomial Poisson — Poisson has
in n fixed trials (success prob) successes”, “pass/fail”,
no fixed n
“yes/no”
“Events per ❌ Confused with
# of events in a
λ (average hour/day/km”, “rare”, Exponential — that’s
Poisson time/space
rate) “average rate”, “calls for time between
window
per minute” events
❌ Confused with
“Until first success”,
# of trials until p (success Binomial — Binomial
Geometric “first win”, “first
1st success prob) is for total successes in
occurrence”
fixed trials

🌊 2. CONTINUOUS DISTRIBUTIONS
Continuous = Can take infinite real values in a range (e.g., time, height)

Distribution Key Idea Parameters Keywords / Use Case Common MCQ Traps
Equal
“Equally likely ❌ Confused with
Uniform probability a (min), b
between a and b”, discrete uniform (like
(Continuous) over an (max)
“constant probability” dice rolls)
interval
❌ Confused with
“Time between
Time until next λ (rate), or Poisson — that's
Exponential events”, “waiting
event mean (1/λ) count, Exponential is
time”, “no memory”
time between
Normal Bell-shaped, μ (mean), σ “Natural phenomena”, ❌ Confused with any
(Gaussian) symmetric (std dev) “bell curve”, “Z- skewed data —
Distribution Key Idea Parameters Keywords / Use Case Common MCQ Traps
score”, “68-95- Normal is perfectly
99.7%” symmetric

🚨 MCQ EXAM TRAPS TO WATCH OUT FOR:


MCQ Confusion Correct Logic
“Rare events over time” → Is it Binomial or
Use Poisson if no fixed number of trials (n)
Poisson?
No! Use Exponential, Poisson is for total
“Time between two calls” → Is it Poisson?
count
“Wait until first success” → Binomial or Use Geometric — it’s about waiting, not
Geometric? counting successes
“Values between 10 and 20 equally likely” →
Continuous Uniform
Which distribution?
“Heights, weights, IQ scores” → Which
Normal
distribution?
“Success/failure over 10 trials” → Which
Binomial, because n = 10 (fixed)
distribution?

💡 Bonus Summary: “WHEN TO USE WHAT”


Use Case Use This Distribution
Count of defects per unit Poisson
Time between failures Exponential
Count of correct answers in 20 MCQs Binomial
Attempts until first login success Geometric
Time to load a webpage (0–5 sec) Continuous Uniform
Height of adult males Normal

Would you like:

 🔁 A printable one-page PDF of this?


 📊 Visual comparison chart between all 6?
 🎯 10 MCQs with tricks on these distributions?

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