Excel like a finance pro.
← The libraryPractice · 2 questions →
Compatibility function
NEGBINOMDIST
Returns the negative binomial distribution; replaced by NEGBINOM.DIST.
Rarely usedDifficulty 1500 · AdvancedUsage rank #474 of 520
When to use it
The negative binomial probability mass. Replaced by NEGBINOM.DIST, which adds a cumulative flag.
The shape of it
- Syntax
=NEGBINOMDIST(number_f, number_s, probability_s)
Worked examples
Exactly ten failures
=NEGBINOMDIST(10,5,0.25) → 0.0550487
Ten failures before the fifth success.
First try
=NEGBINOMDIST(0,1,0.5) → 0.5
Success on the first try.
Another
=NEGBINOMDIST(3,2,0.5) → 0.125
Three failures before the second success.
Worth knowing
- NEGBINOM.DIST(...,FALSE) is identical.
- Counts failures before a target number of successes.
- Non-integers are truncated.
Where it goes wrong
- #NUM! for p outside 0 to 1.
- Flagged by the Compatibility Checker.
Related
Learn the moves here — or let Wauvel run them on your numbers.
Meet your AI CFO →One CFO-grade Excel tip a week
A short, practical email for finance operators — functions, shortcuts, and the moves that save an afternoon. Free, unsubscribe anytime.