# Math Help - Poisson Distribution

1. ## Poisson Distribution

This problem considers the Poisson distribution, a probability distribution for a discrete random variable which was first used by Simeon-Denis Poisson to describe seemingly random criminal events in 1837 in Paris. If independent events have a constant tendency to occur and if the average rate of occurrence is a, then the probability that n events actually occur is given by

$p_n = \frac{e^{-a}a^n}{n!}$ with $n = 0,1,2,...,\infty$

(a) By noting that

$e^{+a} = 1 + \frac{a}{1!} + \frac{a^2}{2!} + \frac{a^3}{3!} + ...$

Show that

$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} p_n = 1$

thereby verifying that the poisson distribution is normalized.

(b) By using $\frac{n}{n!} = \frac{1}{(n-1)!}$ and $a^n = aa^{n-1}$, show that

$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} np_n = a$

thereby verifying that the average rate of occurrence, or the expectation value $$, is equal to a.

I've done this one as well

(c) By using similar techniques, find $$ and show, using $Std.Dev. = \Delta n$ and

$(\Delta n)^2 = - ^2$

that the standard deviation of the poisson distribution is given by

$\Delta n = \sqrt{a}$

This is the one I need help with

2. Originally Posted by Aryth
This problem considers the Poisson distribution, a probability distribution for a discrete random variable which was first used by Simeon-Denis Poisson to describe seemingly random criminal events in 1837 in Paris. If independent events have a constant tendency to occur and if the average rate of occurrence is a, then the probability that n events actually occur is given by

$p_n = \frac{e^{-a}a^n}{n!}$ with $n = 0,1,2,...,\infty$

(a) By noting that

$e^{+a} = 1 + \frac{a}{1!} + \frac{a^2}{2!} + \frac{a^3}{3!} + ...$

Show that

$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} p_n = 1$

thereby verifying that the poisson distribution is normalized.

(b) By using $\frac{n}{n!} = \frac{1}{(n-1)!}$ and $a^n = aa^{n-1}$, show that

$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} np_n = a$

thereby verifying that the average rate of occurrence, or the expectation value $$, is equal to a.

I've done this one as well

(c) By using similar techniques, find $$ and show, using $Std.Dev. = \Delta n$ and

$(\Delta n)^2 = - ^2$

that the standard deviation of the poisson distribution is given by

$\Delta n = \sqrt{a}$

This is the one I need help with

3. Ah, thanks.

4. There's a nice trick here.

Instead of obtaining directly $E(X^2)$, find $E(X(X-1))$ instead.

$E(X(X-1)) =\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}{n(n-1)e^{-a}a^n\over n!} =e^{-a}\sum_{n=2}^{\infty}{a^n\over (n-2)!}$

$=e^{-a}a^2\sum_{n=2}^{\infty}{a^{n-2}\over (n-2)!}=e^{-a}a^2 e^a=a^2$.

Thus $E(X^2)-E(X) =a^2$, so $E(X^2)=E(X)+a^2=a+a^2$.

Hence $V(X)=E(X^2)-(EX)^2 =a+a^2-a^2=a$.

5. Cool, I knew that... But it isn't statistics class (as you can see from the notation) so most of it was worked with $E(X^2)$. That is useful though, thanks.