hypergeometric distribution

[ hahy-per-jee-uh-me-trik, hahy- ]

noun

, Mathematics.

1. a system of probabilities associated with finding a specified number of elements, as 5 white balls, from a given number of elements, as 10 balls, chosen from a set containing 2 kinds of elements of known quantity, as 15 white balls and 20 black balls.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypergeometric distribution¹

First recorded in 1945–50; hyper- + geometric