# Thread: Hypergeometric probabilities sum to one?

1. ## Hypergeometric probabilities sum to one?

Hi, Guess this should be easy, but could do with a pointer. Show directly that the set of probabilities associated with the hypergeometric distribution sum to 1. Hint: Expand the identity

$(1+ \mu)^N = (1+ \mu)^r (1+\mu)^{N-r}$

So, how do you get from this to

$\Sigma_{k=0}^r {{ \binom{r}{k} \cdot \binom{w}{n-k}} \over \binom{N}{n} }} = 1$

which I take to be the formal statement of the verbal statement above, right? (i.e. the set of probabilities associated with the hypergeometric distribution sum to 1 (for a given r, w and N and where r + w = n)).

As always, much appreciated and thanks in advance for any insights.
Ta, MD

2. ## Re: Hypergeometric probabilities sum to one?

Originally Posted by Mathsdog
Hi, Guess this should be easy, but could do with a pointer. Show directly that the set of probabilities associated with the hypergeometric distribution sum to 1. Hint: Expand the identity

$(1+ \mu)^N = (1+ \mu)^r (1+\mu)^{N-r}$

So, how do you get from this to

$\Sigma_{k=0}^r {{ \binom{r}{k} \cdot \binom{w}{n-k}} \over \binom{N}{n} }} = 1$

which I take to be the formal statement of the verbal statement above, right? (i.e. the set of probabilities associated with the hypergeometric distribution sum to 1 (for a given r, w and N and where r + w = n)).

As always, much appreciated and thanks in advance for any insights.
Ta, MD
As is usually the case, all the necessary clues can be found using your search engine of choice:

Hypergeometric distribution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vandermonde's identity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

3. ## Re: Hypergeometric probabilities sum to one?

That's last post by Monsieur Fantastique; about 3.5 years ago.
Who scared him away?
Looks like nobody cares anyway