Probability theory and stochastic processes Proof

Proof of the de Moivre–Laplace theorem from the central limit theorem

Builds on Central limit theorem Bernoulli process Bernoulli distribution Binomial distribution Independence of random variables Binomial coefficient Convergence in distribution Cumulative distribution function Normal distribution Infinite product measure

Proof

We write a binomial variable as a sum of independent Bernoulli variables and apply the central limit theorem.

Let $B_1, B_2, \dots$ be a Bernoulli process with parameter $p$ : i.i.d. variables with $P(B_i = 1) = p$ and $P(B_i = 0) = q$ . Such a sequence exists on an infinite product of copies of $\set{0, 1}$ .
Let $T_n = B_1 + \dots + B_n$ . Claim: $T_n \sim \operatorname{Bin}(n, p)$ . Fix $k \in \set{0, \dots, n}$ .
The event $\set{T_n = k}$ is the disjoint union, over the sets $J \subseteq \set{1, \dots, n}$ with $k$ elements, of the events $E_J = \set{B_j = 1 \text{ for } j \in J, \ B_j = 0 \text{ for } j \notin J}$ .
By independence, $P(E_J) = p^k q^{n-k}$ . There are $\binom{n}{k}$ such sets $J$ , by the definition of the binomial coefficient.
So $P(T_n = k) = \binom{n}{k} p^k q^{n-k}$ , which is the binomial distribution. This proves the claim.
A Bernoulli variable $B_1$ has mean $p$ , since $E[B_1] = 1 \cdot p + 0 \cdot q$ . As $B_1^2 = B_1$ , its variance is $E[B_1^2] - p^2 = p - p^2 = pq$ . Since $0 < p < 1$ , $0 < pq < \infty$ .
Let $Z_n = (S_n - np)/\sqrt{npq}$ and $Z'_n = (T_n - np)/\sqrt{npq}$ . Since $S_n$ and $T_n$ have the same law, $Z_n$ and $Z'_n$ have the same law. So $P(Z_n \in A) = P(Z'_n \in A)$ for each Borel set $A$ .
By the central limit theorem with $\mu = p$ and $\sigma^2 = pq$ , $P(Z'_n \le x) \to \Phi(x)$ for each $x \in \R$ . Here $\Phi$ is the cumulative distribution function of the standard normal distribution.
By step 7, $F_n(x) = P(Z_n \le x) \to \Phi(x)$ for each $x$ . Since $\Phi$ is continuous, this is convergence in distribution to $\mathcal{N}(0, 1)$ .
Now fix reals $a < b$ . Then $P(a \le Z_n \le b) = F_n(b) - P(Z_n < a)$ .
For $\delta > 0$ , $\set{Z_n \le a - \delta} \subseteq \set{Z_n < a} \subseteq \set{Z_n \le a}$ . So $F_n(a - \delta) \le P(Z_n < a) \le F_n(a)$ .
By step 9, $\Phi(a - \delta) \le \liminf_n P(Z_n < a) \le \limsup_n P(Z_n < a) \le \Phi(a)$ .
The density of $\mathcal{N}(0, 1)$ is bounded by $1/\sqrt{2\pi}$ , so $\Phi(a) - \Phi(a - \delta) \le \delta/\sqrt{2\pi}$ . Let $\delta \to 0$ in step 12 to get $P(Z_n < a) \to \Phi(a)$ .
By steps 9, 10 and 13, $P(a \le Z_n \le b) \to \Phi(b) - \Phi(a) = \int_a^b \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}} e^{-x^2/2} \, dx$ .

Idea

A binomial count is a sum of $n$ independent Bernoulli trials with mean $p$ and variance $pq$ . The central limit theorem gives the normal limit of the standardized count. Since the normal distribution function is continuous, the limit does not change if the end points are included or not.

Reading path

To understand this page from the ground up, read these 442 pages in order. The foundations come first. The path takes the proofs Proof that Darboux and Riemann integrals agree, Proof of integration by parts, Proof of the Cauchy–Hadamard theorem, Proof of the derivative of cosine by term-by-term differentiation, Proof of the Weierstrass M-test, Proof of the limit of a sum of sequences, Proof of Rolle's theorem, Proof of the approximation property of the supremum, Proof that every sequence has a monotone subsequence, by peaks, Proof of the formula for the derivative of a polynomial, Proof of the commutativity of addition by induction, Proof of term-by-term differentiation, Proof of the continuity of probability measures, Proof of the epsilon-delta form of continuity, Proof of the power rule by induction, Proof that absolutely convergent series converge, Proof of the sum of a finite geometric series, Proof that convergent sequences are Cauchy, Proof that a complex number times its conjugate is the square of its modulus, Proof that there is a natural number n with 1/n below any positive epsilon, Proof of the chain rule with an auxiliary difference quotient, Proof of the integral of the exponential function, Proof of the probability of the complement, Proof of the Cauchy criterion for series, Proof of the Cauchy criterion for sequences by the Bolzano–Weierstrass theorem, Proof of the reverse triangle inequality, Proof that the exponential series has infinite radius of convergence, Proof of the equality of complex numbers, Proof that continuous functions on a closed bounded interval are uniformly continuous, Proof that the reals form an ordered field, with the Cauchy sequence construction, Proof of the root test, Proof of the double negation law by a truth table, Proof that power series converge uniformly on smaller intervals inside the radius of convergence, Proof of the extreme value theorem by the Bolzano–Weierstrass theorem, Proof that subsequences of a convergent sequence converge to the same limit, Proof of the uniqueness of limits, Proof that Lipschitz functions are uniformly continuous, Proof that the integral of a continuous function is an antiderivative, Proof of strong induction from ordinary induction, Proof that power series are differentiable inside the radius of convergence, Proof of the limit of a product of sequences, Proof that uniform convergence of derivatives allows term-by-term differentiation, Proof that the absolute value is multiplicative, Proof of the squeeze theorem for sequences, Proof of the existence of square roots of nonnegative reals, Proof of Pascal's rule from the recursive definition, Proof that i squared is minus one, Proof of the expectation of a product of independent random variables by simple functions, Proof of the linearity of differentiation, Proof of the angle addition formulas by differentiation, Proof of the mean value theorem for integrals, Proof of the monotonicity of probability, Proof of Riemann's criterion for integrability, Proof of the sequential characterization of limits, Proof of the Cauchy mean value theorem from Rolle's theorem, Proof of the central limit theorem by characteristic functions, Proof that Cauchy sequences are bounded, Proof of the triangle inequality for real numbers, Proof of the epsilon-N definition of the limit of a sequence, Proof of the first fundamental theorem of calculus, Proof that the modulus is multiplicative, Proof of the comparison test, Proof of the existence of the infimum by negation, Proof of Fermat's theorem on stationary points, Proof that limits preserve non-strict inequalities, Proof of the linearity of the integral, Proof of the formula for the characteristic function of the normal distribution, Proof of the factorial formula for binomial coefficients by induction, Proof of integration by substitution, Proof of the product of exponentials by the Cauchy product, Proof of the second fundamental theorem of calculus, Proof that the complex numbers form a field, Proof of the intermediate value theorem by the supremum, Proof of the binomial theorem by induction, Proof that exponentials dominate powers in sequences, by the ratio of consecutive terms, Proof of Taylor's theorem with the Lagrange remainder by the Cauchy mean value theorem, Proof that differentiable functions are continuous, Proof that one-sided limits of a monotone function exist, Proof of the epsilon-delta form of the limit of a function, Proof of the derivative of sine by term-by-term differentiation, Proof of the well-ordering principle from strong induction, Proof of the Bolzano–Weierstrass theorem by a monotone subsequence, Proof of the Archimedean property in an Archimedean ordered field, Proof that a composition of continuous functions is continuous, Proof of the exponential of a sum by the Cauchy product, Proof of the additivity of the integral over intervals, Proof that a decreasing sequence bounded below converges, Proof of the term test, Proof that the exponential function is its own derivative, by term-by-term differentiation, Proof that the reals are Archimedean from the completeness axiom, Proof of the ratio test, Proof of the power series of the exponential function, Proof that convergent sequences are bounded, Proof of the product rule, Proof of the monotone convergence theorem for sequences, Proof that continuity is equivalent to sequential continuity, Proof of the formula for the moment-generating function of the normal distribution, Proof that a function with zero derivative on an open interval is constant, Proof of the monotonicity of the integral, Proof of the comparison test for improper integrals, Proof of the boundedness theorem by Bolzano–Weierstrass, Proof of the ratio formula for the radius of convergence, Proof of Euler's formula by power series, Proof of the fundamental theorem of calculus, Proof that a series of nonnegative terms converges iff its partial sums are bounded, Proof of the product formula for the characteristic function of a sum of independent random variables, Proof of the mean value theorem from Rolle's theorem, Proof that the Cauchy product of absolutely convergent series converges absolutely to the product, Proof that sums and products of continuous functions are continuous, Proof that independence means the joint law is the product of the marginals, Proof that continuous functions are Riemann integrable, Proof of the constant multiple rule.

Almost everywhere concept
Binomial coefficient definition
Cartesian product concept
Complex numbers object
Complex numbers as pairs of reals concept
Construction of the reals from Cauchy sequences concept
Definition by recursion concept
Dynkin system concept
Element definition
Extended real number line object
Factorial definition
Group concept
Imaginary unit object
Infinite product measure concept
Integers object
Integrable function concept
Integral of a non-negative function concept
Lebesgue integral concept
Limit point of a set definition
Lipschitz continuity definition
Local maximum definition
Mathematical induction concept
Measurable function concept
Measurable space concept
Measure concept
Measure space concept
Natural numbers object
Ordered field definition
Partition of an interval definition
Peano axioms concept
Pi-system concept
Probability measure concept
Product sigma-algebra concept
Proposition concept
Random experiment concept
Rational numbers object
Real numbers object
Sequence definition
Set bounded above definition
Sigma-algebra concept
Sigma-finite measure concept
Simple function concept
Proof of Pascal's rule from the recursive definition proof
Complex exponential definition
Power series in the complex plane definition
Real and imaginary parts definition
Proof that i squared is minus one proof
Set definition
Ring definition
Ring of integers statement
Limit of a function definition
Monotone convergence theorem statement
Local minimum definition
Product sigma-algebra definition
Dynkin's π-λ theorem statement
Archimedean ordered field definition
Successor function definition
Mesh of a partition definition
Refinement of a partition definition
Riemann sum definition
Product measure definition
Conjunction definition
Disjunction definition
Implication definition
Negation definition
Predicate definition
Bernoulli trial concept
The reals form a field statement
Real sequence definition
Subsequence definition
Infimum definition
Supremum definition
Pascal's rule statement
Complex conjugate definition
Ordered pair definition
Commutative ring definition
Unit of a ring definition
i squared is minus one statement
Continuity at a point definition
Derivative definition
Limit at infinity definition
One-sided limit definition
Union definition
Addition of natural numbers definition
Riemann integrable function definition
Sample space definition
Biconditional definition
Proof of the Archimedean property in an Archimedean ordered field proof
Truth table concept
Modus ponens concept
The rationals form a field statement
The successor function is injective statement
Zero is not a successor statement
Existential quantifier definition
Universal quantifier definition
Integral of a non-negative function definition
Bounded sequence definition
Cauchy sequence definition
Geometric sequence definition
Limit of a sequence definition
Monotone sequence definition
Sequence tending to infinity definition
Series definition
Completeness axiom statement
Cartesian product definition
Field definition
Proof of the factorial formula for binomial coefficients by induction proof
Proof of the equality of complex numbers proof
Continuous function definition
Antiderivative definition
Differentiable function definition
One-sided derivative definition
Riemann integral definition
Archimedean property statement
Subset definition
Proof of the commutativity of addition by induction proof
Mathematical proof concept
Order on the natural numbers definition
Propositional logic concept
Uniqueness quantifier definition
The rationals form an ordered field statement
Limit inferior definition
Limit superior definition
Proof of the sum of a finite geometric series proof
Upper and lower Darboux sums definition
Convergent sequence definition
Pointwise convergence definition
Sequential continuity definition
The sequence r^n tends to infinity for r > 1 example
Cauchy product definition
Partial sum definition
Power series definition
Equality of complex numbers statement
Factorial formula for binomial coefficients statement
Binary relation definition
Proof that a composition of continuous functions is continuous proof
Derivative function definition
Universal set definition
Definite integral definition
Improper integral definition
Power set definition
Order on the reals definition
Fatou's lemma statement
Commutativity of addition statement
Tautology definition
Proof of strong induction from ordinary induction proof
Upper and lower Darboux integrals definition
Uniform convergence definition
Sum of a finite geometric series statement
Radius of convergence definition
Convergent series definition
Sine and cosine definition
Proof of the binomial theorem by induction proof
Antisymmetric relation definition
Reflexive relation definition
Transitive relation definition
Higher derivative definition
Proof that the complex numbers form a field proof
Complement definition
Function definition
Interval definition
Dominated convergence theorem statement
Logical equivalence definition
Uniform convergence on a set definition
Strong induction statement
Sum of a series definition
Series of functions definition
Absolute convergence definition
Binomial theorem statement
Preorder definition
Taylor polynomial definition
Continuously differentiable function definition
Injective function definition
Proof of the epsilon-delta form of continuity proof
Sigma-algebra definition
Proof of the epsilon-delta form of the limit of a function proof
Indicator function definition
Preimage of a set definition
The complex numbers form a field statement
Proof of the well-ordering principle from strong induction proof
Proof of the double negation law by a truth table proof
Partial order definition
Smooth function definition
Countable set definition
Monotone function definition
Epsilon-delta definition of continuity statement
Epsilon-delta definition of a limit statement
Event definition
Dynkin system definition
Double negation law statement
Well-ordering principle statement
Borel sigma-algebra definition
Total order definition
Composition of continuous functions is continuous statement
Uniform continuity definition
Probability axioms concept
Taylor series definition
Proof by contradiction concept
Proof that every sequence has a monotone subsequence, by peaks proof
Uniform continuity on a set definition
Maclaurin series definition
Probability measure definition
Proof that Lipschitz functions are uniformly continuous proof
Proof that the reals form an ordered field, with the Cauchy sequence construction proof
Every sequence has a monotone subsequence statement
Dirac measure definition
Probability distribution definition
Probability space definition
Lipschitz functions are uniformly continuous statement
The reals form an ordered field statement
Absolute value definition
Conditional probability definition
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Proof of the approximation property of the supremum proof
Proof of the existence of square roots of nonnegative reals proof
Proof of the existence of the infimum by negation proof
Cumulative distribution function definition
Law of a random variable definition
Discrete random variable definition
Proof of the triangle inequality for real numbers proof
Proof that the absolute value is multiplicative proof
Stochastic process concept
Independence of two events definition
Random variable with a density definition
Proof of the epsilon-N definition of the limit of a sequence proof
Existence of square roots of nonnegative reals statement
Approximation property of the supremum statement
Existence of the infimum statement
Convergence in distribution definition
Identically distributed random variables definition
Joint probability distribution definition
Triangle inequality statement
Absolute value is multiplicative statement
Probability mass function definition
Expected value definition
Probability density function definition
Independence of two random variables definition
Mutual independence of events definition
Square root definition
Epsilon-N definition of the limit of a sequence statement
Proof that one-sided limits of a monotone function exist proof
Proof of the intermediate value theorem by the supremum proof
Proof that the reals are Archimedean from the completeness axiom proof
Marginal distribution definition
Proof of the reverse triangle inequality proof
Variance definition
Law of the unconscious statistician statement
Proof that differentiable functions are continuous proof
Modulus of a complex number definition
Proof that limits preserve non-strict inequalities proof
Proof of the squeeze theorem for sequences proof
Linearity of expectation statement
Proof of the uniqueness of limits proof
Density of the normal distribution definition
Proof of the limit of a sum of sequences proof
Independent sigma-algebras definition
Intermediate value theorem statement
Proof of the linearity of the integral proof
Binomial distribution definition
Bernoulli distribution definition
Proof that convergent sequences are bounded proof
Proof that convergent sequences are Cauchy proof
The reals are Archimedean statement
Proof that Cauchy sequences are bounded proof
Proof of the term test proof
The sequence 1/n tends to zero example
Proof that subsequences of a convergent sequence converge to the same limit proof
Proof of the monotone convergence theorem for sequences proof
Reverse triangle inequality statement
Proof that a complex number times its conjugate is the square of its modulus proof
Moment definition
Differentiable functions are continuous statement
Normal distribution definition
Proof of the probability of the complement proof
Independence of random variables definition
Proof that independence means the joint law is the product of the marginals proof
Linearity of the integral statement
Proof of the monotonicity of the integral proof
Limits preserve non-strict inequalities statement
Uniqueness of limits statement
Limit of a sum of sequences statement
Floor function definition
Proof that there is a natural number n with 1/n below any positive epsilon proof
Squeeze theorem statement
Proof of the ratio formula for the radius of convergence proof
Convergent sequences are bounded statement
Proof that Darboux and Riemann integrals agree proof
Convergent sequences are Cauchy statement
Subsequences of a convergent sequence converge to the same limit statement
Cauchy sequences are bounded statement
Monotone convergence theorem for sequences statement
A complex number times its conjugate statement
Independent and identically distributed random variables definition
Independence means the joint law is the product of the marginals statement
Moment-generating function definition
Probability of the complement statement
Proof of the limit of a product of sequences proof
Monotonicity of the integral statement
Darboux and Riemann integrals agree statement
One-sided limits of a monotone function exist statement
There is a natural number n with 1/n below any positive epsilon statement
Term test statement
Proof that a series of nonnegative terms converges iff its partial sums are bounded proof
The sequence r^n tends to zero for |r| < 1 example
Proof that a decreasing sequence bounded below converges proof
Proof that the modulus is multiplicative proof
Proof of the monotonicity of probability proof
Bernoulli process definition
Proof of the sequential characterization of limits proof
Proof that continuity is equivalent to sequential continuity proof
Limit of a product of sequences statement
Geometric series example
Decreasing sequence bounded below converges statement
Proof of Riemann's criterion for integrability proof
A series of nonnegative terms converges iff its partial sums are bounded statement
Modulus is multiplicative statement
Monotonicity of probability statement
Proof of Euler's formula by power series proof
Continuity is equivalent to sequential continuity statement
Riemann's criterion for integrability statement
Proof of the expectation of a product of independent random variables by simple functions proof
Sequential characterization of limits statement
Proof that the Cauchy product of absolutely convergent series converges absolutely to the product proof
Proof of the root test proof
Proof of the ratio test proof
Proof of the Cauchy–Hadamard theorem proof
Proof of the comparison test proof
Proof that exponentials dominate powers in sequences, by the ratio of consecutive terms proof
Proof of the Bolzano–Weierstrass theorem by a monotone subsequence proof
Euler's formula statement
Proof of the continuity of probability measures proof
Expectation of a product of independent random variables statement
Proof of the chain rule with an auxiliary difference quotient proof
Proof of the product rule proof
Proof of the linearity of differentiation proof
Proof that sums and products of continuous functions are continuous proof
Comparison test statement
Cauchy product of absolutely convergent series statement
Proof of the additivity of the integral over intervals proof
Bolzano–Weierstrass theorem statement
Exponentials dominate powers in sequences statement
Continuity of probability measures statement
Characteristic function definition
Chain rule statement
Product of continuous functions is continuous statement
Product rule statement
Additivity of the integral over intervals statement
Proof of the product of exponentials by the Cauchy product proof
Linearity of differentiation statement
Proof that continuous functions on a closed bounded interval are uniformly continuous proof
Ratio test statement
Root test statement
Proof of the boundedness theorem by Bolzano–Weierstrass proof
Proof of the Cauchy criterion for sequences by the Bolzano–Weierstrass theorem proof
The characteristic function determines the distribution statement
Product of exponentials statement
Continuous functions on a closed bounded interval are uniformly continuous statement
Proof of the power rule by induction proof
Proof of the constant multiple rule proof
Boundedness theorem statement
Proof of the first fundamental theorem of calculus proof
Proof of the comparison test for improper integrals proof
Cauchy–Hadamard theorem statement
Ratio formula for the radius of convergence statement
Cauchy criterion for sequences statement
Lévy's continuity theorem statement
Power rule statement
Constant multiple rule statement
Comparison test for improper integrals statement
Proof of the product formula for the characteristic function of a sum of independent random variables proof
Proof of the extreme value theorem by the Bolzano–Weierstrass theorem proof
Uniformly Cauchy sequence of functions definition
Proof of the Cauchy criterion for series proof
Characteristic function of a sum of independent random variables statement
Extreme value theorem statement
Proof of the formula for the derivative of a polynomial proof
Proof of Fermat's theorem on stationary points proof
Cauchy criterion for series statement
Derivative of a polynomial statement
Proof that continuous functions are Riemann integrable proof
Proof that absolutely convergent series converge proof
Fermat's theorem on stationary points statement
Continuous functions are Riemann integrable statement
Absolutely convergent series converge statement
Proof of Rolle's theorem proof
Rolle's theorem statement
Proof of the mean value theorem for integrals proof
Proof of the Weierstrass M-test proof
Proof of the Cauchy mean value theorem from Rolle's theorem proof
Proof of the mean value theorem from Rolle's theorem proof
Mean value theorem for integrals statement
Weierstrass M-test statement
Mean value theorem statement
First fundamental theorem of calculus statement
Proof that power series converge uniformly on smaller intervals inside the radius of convergence proof
Cauchy mean value theorem statement
Proof that a function with zero derivative on an open interval is constant proof
Proof that the integral of a continuous function is an antiderivative proof
Proof that uniform convergence of derivatives allows term-by-term differentiation proof
Power series converge uniformly on smaller discs inside the radius of convergence statement
Proof of the second fundamental theorem of calculus proof
A function with zero derivative is constant statement
The integral of a continuous function is an antiderivative statement
Proof of Taylor's theorem with the Lagrange remainder by the Cauchy mean value theorem proof
Uniform convergence of derivatives allows term-by-term differentiation statement
Second fundamental theorem of calculus statement
Proof that the exponential series has infinite radius of convergence proof
Taylor's theorem with the Lagrange remainder statement
Proof of the fundamental theorem of calculus proof
Proof of integration by parts proof
Proof of integration by substitution proof
Proof of term-by-term differentiation proof
The exponential series has infinite radius of convergence statement
Integration by substitution statement
Fundamental theorem of calculus statement
Integration by parts statement
Term-by-term differentiation statement
Exponential function definition
Proof of the exponential of a sum by the Cauchy product proof
Proof that power series are differentiable inside the radius of convergence proof
Exponential of a sum statement
Power series are differentiable inside the radius of convergence statement
Proof of the formula for the moment-generating function of the normal distribution proof
Proof that the exponential function is its own derivative, by term-by-term differentiation proof
Proof of the derivative of cosine by term-by-term differentiation proof
Proof of the derivative of sine by term-by-term differentiation proof
The exponential function is its own derivative statement
Moment-generating function of the normal distribution statement
Derivative of cosine statement
Derivative of sine statement
Proof of the integral of the exponential function proof
Proof of the power series of the exponential function proof
Proof of the angle addition formulas by differentiation proof
Integral of the exponential function statement
Power series of the exponential function statement
Angle addition formulas statement
Integral of exp(-x) over the half line example
Proof of the formula for the characteristic function of the normal distribution proof
Characteristic function of the normal distribution statement
Proof of the central limit theorem by characteristic functions proof
Central limit theorem statement
Proof of the de Moivre–Laplace theorem from the central limit theorem proof

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De Moivre–Laplace theorem

Tag	`CT2QK2KGHG`
URI	`m2://CT2QK2KGHG`
Kind	proof
Writing	W0 stub
MSC	60F05
Proves	De Moivre–Laplace theorem
Uses	Central limit theorem, Bernoulli process, Bernoulli distribution, Binomial distribution, Independence of random variables, Binomial coefficient, Convergence in distribution, Cumulative distribution function, Normal distribution, Infinite product measure
Changed	4 November 2026

Proof of the de Moivre–Laplace theorem from the central limit theorem

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