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Binary Event

A binary event has exactly two outcomes, usually yes or no. Brier score and log loss are commonly used to score probabilistic forecasts for binary events.

Definition

A binary event is an event with two possible outcomes. In forecasting, it is typically represented as:

Yes (the event happens, outcome = 1)

No (the event does not happen, outcome = 0)

Examples

• Will a team win the match?

• Will inflation be above 3% on a specific release date?

• Will a candidate win an election?

Why it matters

Many prediction market contracts are naturally binary. That is why Brier score and log loss are widely used: they score probability forecasts against a binary outcome.

Related

Binary events connect to implied probability and to market pricing via market consensus.