
Data points on a P chart follow the binomial distribution.
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| xi | number of defectives for subgroup i |
| ni | size of subgroup i |
. If you do not specify a historical value, then Minitab uses the average proportion of defectives from your data,
, to estimate
.

| Term | Description |
|---|---|
![]() | number of defectives in subgroup ![]() |
![]() | size of subgroup ![]() |
Each subgroup proportion
is converted to a z-score (
):

Next, a moving range of length 2 is used to evaluate the variation in the z-scores and calculate Sigma Z (
):

where 1.128 is an unbiasing constant.
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
![]() | proportion of defectives for subgroup ![]() |
![]() | process proportion |
![]() | size of subgroup ![]() |
![]() | moving range of length 2 |
The LCL for each subgroup
is equal to the greater of the following:

or

The UCL for each subgroup
is equal to the lesser of the following:

or

| Term | Description |
|---|---|
![]() | process proportion |
![]() | parameter for Test 1. The default is 3. (For more information, go to Select tests for special causes for Laney P' Chart.) |
![]() | size of subgroup ![]() |
![]() | see "Sigma Z" |