A central limit theorem is proved for the sum of random variables Xr all having the same form of distribution and each of which depends on a parameter which is the number occurring in the rth cell of a multinomial distribution with equal probabilities in N cells and a total n, where nN–1 tends to a non-zero constant. This result is used to prove the asymptotic normality of the distribution of the fractional volume of a large cube which is not covered by N interpenetrating spheres whose centres are at random, and for which NV–1 tends to a non-zero constant. The same theorem can be used to prove asymptotic normality for a large number of occupancy problems.
