Poisson Distribution

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Poisson Distribution

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A one-parameter discrete frequency distribution giving the probability the n points (or events) will be (or occur) in an interval (or time) x , provided that these points are individually independent and that the number occurring in a subinterval does not influence the number occurring in any other nonoverlapping subinterval. It has the form

f(n,x) = e^-σx(σx)ⁿ/n!

The mean and variance are both σx , and σ is the average density (or rate) with which the events occur. When σx is large, the Poisson distribution approaches the normal distribution. The binomial distribution approaches the Poisson when the number of events n becomes large and the probability of success P becomes small in such a way that nP aproaches σx.[[/a>|/a> ]]

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use