# Inequality on binomial distribution

Let $X$ denote number of success in $n$ independent Bernoulli trials with probability of success $p$ in each trial. Show that, $$\mathbb{P}[X\ge r] \le \frac{r(1-p)}{(r-np)^2}, \quad if \quad r>np$$.

Comments- It looks like a standard problem, but I don't have enough ideas on how to proceed after opening the probability expression as sum of different combinations.

• Also, note that $r > np$.
• I wonder if this trick works for a similar upper bound of $P(X\le r)$, namely $\frac{(n-r)p}{(np-k)^2}$ when $r<np$. – StubbornAtom Mar 2 '18 at 19:56
• Let $Y$ be $X+Y=n$, then $P( X \le r) = P(Y \ge n-r)$ then we can apply the result. – Siong Thye Goh Mar 2 '18 at 20:10
• Indeed, yes. But if I work out $P(Y \ge n-r)$ from scratch as you hinted in the original post, I end up with $P(Y \ge n-r)<\frac{npq}{(np-k)^2}$ when $np>k$. That is, by using Chebyshev's inequality. – StubbornAtom Mar 2 '18 at 20:50
• $Y \sim Bin(n, 1-p)$, so I shall just replace $r$ with $n-r$ and $p$ with $1-p$ right? – Siong Thye Goh Mar 2 '18 at 20:57