# Is there any evidence that an option delta approximates ITM expiry probability?

Several sources (online and offline) that discuss the delta of a listed vanilla option, state that its delta is a (guesstimate?) of the probability of said option expiring ITM (in the BSM framework).

However, looking at the derivation of delta from the BS model (and its variants), it is not obvious (atleast to me), that the delta can be used as a proxy for the probability of ITM expiry. I want to know if there is any supporting evidence (theoretical or otherwise), that lends at least some credence to this assertion - or is it just an "old wives tale" ?

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$$\int_{K}^{\infty} 1 \cdot p(S_\tau) dS_\tau$$ where $p(S_\tau)$ is the risk-neutral Black-Scholes probability density $$\frac{n( d_2(S_0,S_\tau) )} {S_\tau \sigma \sqrt{\tau} }.$$ and the answer works out to the delta.
Note that this can be viewed as taking the derivative of the option pricing expectation equation $$C=\int_{K}^{\infty} (S-K) \cdot p(S_\tau) dS_\tau$$ through the integral sign.
Thanks for the clarification. I do recall my maths professor talking about the change of numaire under a R.N measure. Divergence between theory and practise again - I guess a lot of straddle traders are sitting on a time bomb :/. As an aside, its could you explain the first integral? I have not encountered it before. I can understand integrating asset price from K to +inf but it is not clear why you are 'weighting' the probabilities by 1. Also, I don't see how this gives us the delta (sorry, been a while since I took calculus ;) ) – Homunculus Reticulli Aug 31 '12 at 15:38