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Introduction
Several Useful Discrete
Distributions
The Poisson Random Variable
The Poisson random variable x is a model for data
that represent the number of occurrences of a
specified event in a given unit of time or space.
Examples:
The number of calls received by a switchboard
during a given period of time.
The number of machine breakdowns in a day
The number of traffic accidents at a given
intersection during a given time period.
Discrete random variables take on only a finite or
countable number of values.
The discrete probability distributions serve as models
for a large number of practical applications:
The Binomial distribution
The Multinomial distribution
The Negative binomial distribution
The Geometric distribution
The Poisson distribution
The Hypergeometric distribution
The Poisson Probability Distribution
x is the number of events that occur in a period of
time or space during which an average of m such
events can be expected to occur. The probability of k
occurrences of this event is
m k em
P( x k )
k!
For values of k = 0, 1, 2, The mean and standard deviation of the
Poisson random variable are
Mean: m
Standard deviation: m
1
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Example Cumulative Probability Tables

The average number of traffic accidents on a
certain section of highway is two per week. Find You can use the cumulative probability tables to find
the probability of exactly one accident during a probabilities for selected Poisson distributions.
one-week period.

m k e m 21 e 2 Find the column for the correct value of m.

P ( x 1) 2 e 2 0,2707
k! 1! The row marked k gives the cumulative
probability, P(x k) = P(x = 0) ++ P(x = k)

Example Example
k m=2 What is the probability that there is k m=2 What is the probability that 8 or
0 .135 exactly 1 accident? 0 .135 more accidents happen?
1 .406 1 .406
P(x 8) = 1 - P(x < 8)
2 .677 2 .677
= 1 P(x 7)
3 .857 3 .857
P(x = 1) = P(x 1) P(x 0) = 1 0,999 = 0,001
4 .947 4 .947
5 .983
= 0,406 0,135 5 .983
6 .995
= 0,271 Check from formula: P(x = 1) =
6 .995
0,2707
7 .999 7 .999
8 1.000 8 1.000

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m m
m m
The Hypergeometric Probability m m m m
m
m The Mean and Variance m
m
Distribution m m

A bowl contains M red candies and N-M blue The mean and variance of the hypergeometric
candies. Select n candies from the bowl and record random variable x resemble the mean and variance of
x the number of red candies selected. Define a red the binomial random variable:
M&M to be a success.
M
Mean : m n
N
The probability of exactly k successes in n trials is
M N M N n
C kM C nM k N Variance : 2 n
P( x k ) N N N 1
C nN

Example Example
A package of 8 AA batteries contains 2 batteries that
are defective. A student randomly selects four What are the mean and variance for the number
batteries and replaces the batteries in his calculator. of batteries that work?
What is the probability that all four batteries work? M 6
m n 4 3
N 8
M N M N n
Success = working battery P ( x 4)
C 46 C 02 2 n
N=8 C 48 N N N 1
M=6
6 2 4
6(5) / 2(1) 15 4 0,4286
n=4
8 8 7
8(7)(6)(5) / 4(3)( 2)(1) 70