Exercise · ZW-POISSON-DISTRIBUTION-008 · ★★☆ Intermediate

To approximate a binomial with \(n=200\) and \(p=0.01\) by a Poisson, which value of \(\lambda\) is appropriate?

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • A. \(2\)

Explanation

The means are matched: \(\lambda=np=200\cdot0.01=2\). The value \(1.98\) is the binomial variance, close but not the usual parameter.

Study Probability and statistics in ZWMath →

Review the concept: Poisson distribution

A Poisson variable \(X\) counts independent events, at a constant average rate, in a fixed interval; its parameter \(\lambda\) is the mean number of events and \(P(X=k)\) the probability of observing \(k\).

\[P(X=k)=\frac{e^{-\lambda}\lambda^{k}}{k!},\quad k=0,1,2,\dots\]

More practice problems: poisson distribution

← ZW-POISSON-DISTRIBUTION-007 ZW-POISSON-DISTRIBUTION-009 →