Syntax
HYPGEOMDIST(sample_s, num_sample, pop_s, num_pop)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| sample_s | Parameter of the HYPGEOMDIST function. |
| num_sample | Parameter of the HYPGEOMDIST function. |
| pop_s | Parameter of the HYPGEOMDIST function. |
| num_pop | Parameter of the HYPGEOMDIST function. |
Examples
3 red balls from a bag
Formula
=HYPGEOMDIST(3, 5, 10, 30)
Returns ~0.2394. From a bag of 30 balls where 10 are red, drawing 5 gives about a 24% chance of getting exactly 3 red balls.
1 woman on a 4-person committee
Formula
=HYPGEOMDIST(1, 4, 8, 20)
Returns ~0.3633. From a group of 20 people with 8 women, a random 4-person committee has about a 36% chance of including exactly 1 woman.
No tagged fish in recapture
Formula
=HYPGEOMDIST(0, 10, 50, 500)
Returns ~0.3487. In a capture-recapture study with 50 tagged fish in a pond of 500, catching 10 fish gives about a 35% chance of catching zero tagged ones.
Common Errors
#NUM!
Arguments must be non-negative integers within valid ranges. sample_s <= min(num_sample, pop_s) and num_sample <= num_pop.
#VALUE!
Occurs when arguments are non-numeric.
Tips
No cumulative option
HYPGEOMDIST always returns the exact (PMF) probability. Use HYPGEOM.DIST with cumulative=TRUE for 'at most k' questions.
Prefer HYPGEOM.DIST
This is the compatibility version. HYPGEOM.DIST is the modern replacement offering a cumulative parameter.
Argument order matters
The order is: successes in sample, sample size, successes in population, population size. A common mistake is swapping sample size and population successes.
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