3

Discrete Random
Variables and
Probability
Distributions
CHAPTER OUTLINE
3-1 Discrete Random Variables 3-7 Geometric and Negative Binomial
3-2 Probability Distributions and Distributions
Probability Mass Functions 3-7.1 Geometric Distribution
3-3 Cumulative Distribution Functions 3.7.2 Negative Binomial Distribution
3-4 Mean and Variance of a Discrete 3-8 Hypergeometric Distribution
Random Variable 3-9 Poisson Distribution
3-5 Discrete Uniform Distribution
3-6 Binomial Distribution

Chapter 3 Title
1
 Learning Objectives of Chapter 3
After careful study of this chapter, you should be able to do the
following:
1. Determine probabilities from probability mass functions (PMF) and
the reverse.
2. Determine probabilities from cumulative distribution functions (CDF),
and cumulative distribution functions from probability mass functions
and the reverse.
3. Determine means and variances for discrete random variables.
4. Understand the assumptions for each of the discrete random
variables presented.
5. Select an appropriate discrete probability distribution to calculate
probabilities in specific applications.
6. Calculate probabilities, and calculate means and variances, for each
of the probability distributions presented.
Chapter 3 Learning Objectives 2
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Example 3-4: Digital Channel
There is a chance that a bit
transmitted through a
digital transmission
channel is received in error.
Let X equal the number of Figure 3-1 Probability
distribution for bits in error.
bits received in error of the
next 4 transmitted. P(X =0) = 0.6561
P(X =1) = 0.2916
The associated probability P(X =2) = 0.0486
distribution of X is shown P(X =3) = 0.0036
P(X =4) = 0.0001
as a graph and as a table. 1.0000

Sec 3-2 Probability Distributions & Probability Mass Functions 3

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Probability Mass Function
Suppose a loading on a long, thin beam places mass only at
discrete points. This represents a probability distribution
where the beam is the number line over the range of x and
the probabilities represent the mass. Thats why it is called a
probability mass function (PMF).

Figure 3-2 Loading at discrete

points on a long, thin beam.

Sec 3-2 Probability Distributions & Probability Mass Functions 4

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
Probability Mass Function (PMF) Properties
For a discrete random variable X with possible values x1 ,x 2 , ... x n ,
a probability mass function is a function such that:

(1) f xi 0
n
(2) f x 1
i 1
i

(3) f xi P X xi
P(X =0) = 0.6561
P(X =1) = 0.2916
P(X =2) = 0.0486
P(X =3) = 0.0036
P(X =4) = 0.0001
1.0000
Sec 3-2 Probability Distributions & Probability Mass Functions 5
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Example 3-5: Wafer Contamination
Let the random variable X denote the number of wafers that need to
be analyzed to detect a large particle. Assume that the probability
that a wafer contains a large particle is 0. 1, and that the wafers are
independent. Determine the probability distribution of X.
Let p denote a wafer for which a large particle is present & let a
denote a wafer in which it is absent.
The sample space is: S = {p, ap, aap, aaap, }
The range of the values of X is: x = 1, 2, 3, 4,
Probability Distribution
P(X =1) = 0.1 0.1
P(X =2) = (0.9)*0.1 0.09
P(X =3) = (0.9)2 *0.1 0.081
P(X =4) = (0.9)3 *0.1 0.0729
0.3439

Sec 3=2 Probability Distributions & Probability Mass Functions 6

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Cumulative Distribution Functions (CDF)
Example 3-6: From Example 3.4,
we can express the probability of x P(X =x ) P(X x )
three or fewer bits being in error, 0 0.6561 0.6561
denoted as P(X 3). 1 0.2916 0.9477
The event (X 3) is the union of 2 0.0486 0.9963
the mutually exclusive events:
(X=0), (X=1), (X=2), (X=3). 3 0.0036 0.9999
4 0.0001 1.0000
From the table: 1.0000

P(X 3) = P(X=0) + P(X=1) + P(X=2) + P(X=3) = 0.9999

P(X = 3) = P(X 3) - P(X 2) = 0.0036

Sec 3-3 Cumulative Distribution Functions 7

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
Cumulative Distribution Function Properties
The cumulative distribution function is built from the
probability mass function and vice versa.
The cumulative distribution function of a discrete random variable X ,
denoted as F ( x), is:

F x F X x xi P(X 3)
xi x

For a discrete random variable X , F x satisfies the following properties:

(1) F x P X x f xi x P(X =x ) P(X x )
xi x
0 0.6561 0.6561
(2) 0 F x 1
1 0.2916 0.9477
(3) If x y, then F x F y 2 0.0486 0.9963
3 0.0036 0.9999
Sec 3-3 Cumulative Distribution Functions
4 0.0001 1.0000 8
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and1.0000
Runger.
 Example 3-7: Cumulative Distribution Function
Determine the probability mass function of X
from this cumulative distribution function:
F (x) = 0.0 x < -2 PMF
0.2 -2 x < 0 f (-2) = 0.2
0.7 0x <2 f (0) = 0.5
1.0 2x f (2) = 0.3

Figure 3-3 Graph of the CDF

Sec 3-3 Cumulative Distribution Functions 9
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
Example 3-8: Sampling without Replacement
A days production of 850 parts contains 50 defective parts.
Two parts are selected at random without replacement.
Let the random variable X equal the number of defective
parts in the sample. Create the CDF of X.
P X 0 800
850 849 0.886
799

1st 2nd
P X 1 2 800
850 50
849 0.111 n n
P X 2 850
50
849
49
0.003 d n
Therefore, n d
d d
F 0 P X 0 0.886
F 1 P X 1 0.997 Figure 3-4 CDF. Note that F(x) is defined
F 2 P X 2 1.000 for all x, - <x < , not just 0, 1 and 2.

Sec 3-3 Cumulative Distribution Functions 10

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Summary Numbers of a Probability Distribution

The mean is a measure of the center of a

probability distribution.
The variance is a measure of the
dispersion or variability of a probability
distribution.
The standard deviation is another
measure of the dispersion. It is the
square root of the variance.
Sec 3-4 Mean & Variance of a Discrete Random Variable 11
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Mean Defined
The mean or expected value of the discrete random variable X,
denoted as or E X , is
E X x f x
x

The mean is the weighted average of the possible values of X,

the weights being the probabilities where the beam balances.
It represents the center of the distribution. It is also called the
arithmetic mean.
If f(x) is the probability mass function representing the loading
on a long, thin beam, then E(X) is the fulcrum or point of
balance for the beam.
The mean value may, or may not, be a given value of x.

Sec 3-4 Mean & Variance of a Discrete Random Variable 12

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Variance Defined
The variance of X, denoted as 2 or V X , is
2 V X E X x f x x2 f x 2
2 2

x x

The variance is the measure of dispersion or scatter in the

possible values for X.
It is the average of the squared deviations from the
distribution mean.

Figure 3-5 The mean is the balance point. Distributions (a) & (b) have equal
mean, but (a) has a larger variance.
Sec 3-4 Mean & Variance of a Discrete Random Variable 13
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Variance Formula Derivations
V X x f x is the definitional formula
2

x 2 2 x 2 f x
x

x f x 2 xf x
2 2
f x
x x

x 2 f x 2 2 2
x

x 2 f x 2 is the computational formula

x

The computational formula is easier to calculate manually.

Sec 3-4 Mean & Variance of a Discrete Random Variable 14
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
Different Distributions Have Same Measures
These measures do not uniquely identify a
probability distribution different
distributions could have the same mean &
variance.

Figure 3-6 These probability distributions have the same mean and
variance measures, but are very different in shape.

Sec 3-4 Mean & Variance of a Discrete Random Variable 15

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Exercise 3-9: Digital Channel
In Exercise 3-4, there is a chance that a bit transmitted
through a digital transmission channel is an error. X is
the number of bits received in error of the next 4
transmitted. Use table to calculate the mean & variance.

Definitional formula
x f (x ) x *f (x ) (x -0.4)2 (x -0.4)2*f (x ) x 2*f (x )
0 0.6561 0.0000 0.160 0.1050 0.0000
1 0.2916 0.2916 0.360 0.1050 0.2916
2 0.0486 0.0972 2.560 0.1244 0.1944
3 0.0036 0.0108 6.760 0.0243 0.0324
4 0.0001 0.0004 12.960 0.0013 0.0016
Totals = 0.4000 0.3600 0.5200
= Mean = Variance (2) = E(x2)
= 2 = E(x2) - 2 = 0.3600
Computational formula
Sec 3-4 Mean & Variance of a Discrete Random Variable 16
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Exercise 3-11: Messages
The number of messages sent per hour over a
computer network has the following distribution.
Find the mean & standard deviation of the number
of messages sent per hour.
x f (x ) x *f (x ) x 2*f (x ) Mean = 12.5
10 0.08 0.80 8 Variance = 158.10 12.52 = 1.85
11 0.15 1.65 18.15 Standard deviation = 1.36
12 0.30 3.60 43.2 Note that: E(X2) [E(X)]2
13 0.20 2.60 33.8
14 0.20 2.80 39.2
15 0.07 1.05 15.75
1.00 12.50 158.10
= E (X ) = E (X 2)
Sec 3-4 Mean & Variance of a Discrete Random Variable 17
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Example 3-12: Digital Channel
In Example 3-9, X is the number of bits in error
in the next four bits transmitted. What is the
expected value of the square of the number of
bits in error E(x2)?
x f (x ) x 2*f (x )
0 0.6561 0.0000
1 0.2916 0.2916
2 0.0486 0.1944
3 0.0036 0.0324
4 0.0001 0.0016
1.0000 0.5200
= E (x 2)

Sec 3-4 Mean & Variance of a Discrete Random Variable 18

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Random Distributions

Uniform Normal
Distribution Distribution

Geometric Binomial Poisson

Distributions Distributions Distributions

Sec 2-
19
 DISCRETE UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION

Sec 2-
20
 Discrete Uniform Distribution
Simplest discrete distribution.
The random variable X assumes only a finite
number of values, each with equal probability.
A random variable X has a discrete uniform
distribution if each of the n values in its range,
say x1, x2, , xn, has equal probability.

f(xi) = 1/n (3-5)

Sec 3-5 Discrete Uniform Distribution 21

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
Example 3-13: Discrete Uniform Random Variable

The first digit of a parts serial number is equally

likely to be the digits 0 through 9. If one part
is selected from a large batch & X is the 1st
digit of the serial number, then X has a
discrete uniform distribution as shown.

Figure 3-7 Probability mass function, f(x) = 1/10 for x = 0, 1, 2, , 9

Find f(x), means and variance

Sec 3-5 Discrete Uniform Distribution 22
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 General Discrete Uniform Distribution
Let X be a discrete uniform random variable
from a to b for a < b. There are b (a-1) values
in the inclusive interval. Therefore:
f(x) = 1/(b-a+1)
Its measures are:

Sec 3-5 Discrete Uniform Distribution 23

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Example 3-14: Number of Voice Lines
Per Example 3-1, let the random variable X
denote the number of the 48 voice lines that
are in use at a particular time. Assume that X
is a discrete uniform random variable with a
range of 0 to 48. Find E(X) & SD(X).
Answer: 48 0
24
2
48 0 1 1
2
2400
X 14.142
12 12

Sec 3-5 Discrete Uniform Distribution 24

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Random Distributions

Uniform Normal
Distribution Distribution

Geometric Binomial Poisson

Distributions Distributions Distributions

Sec 2-
25
 DISCRETE BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION

Sec 2-
26
 Examples of Binomial Random Variables
1. Flip a coin 10 times. X = # heads obtained.
2. A worn tool produces 1% defective parts. X = # defective parts
in the next 25 parts produced.
3. A multiple-choice test contains 10 questions, each with 4
choices, and you guess. X = # of correct answers.
4. Of the next 20 births, let X = # females.
These are binomial experiments having the following
characteristics:
1. Fixed number of trials (n).
2. Each trial is termed a success or failure. X is the # of successes.
3. The probability of success in each trial is constant (p).
4. The outcomes of successive trials are independent.

Sec 3-6 Binomial Distribution 27

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Example 3-16: Digital Channel
The chance that a bit transmitted through a digital
transmission channel is received in error is 0.1.
Assume that the transmission trials are independent.
Let X = the number of bits in error in the next 4 bits
transmitted. Find P(X=2).
Answer: Outcome x Outcome x
Let E denote a bit in error OOOO 0 EOOO 1
OOOE 1 EOOE 2
Let O denote an OK bit. OOEO 1 EOEO 2
Sample space & x listed in table. OOEE 2 EOEE 3
6 outcomes where x = 2. OEOO 1 EEOO 2
Prob of each is 0.12*0.92 = 0.0081 OEOE 2 EEOE 3
OEEO 2 EEEO 3
Prob(X=2) = 6*0.0081 = 0.0486
OEEE 3 EEEE 4
P X 2 C24 0.1 0.9
2 2

Sec 3=6 Binomial Distribution 28

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Example 3-17: Binomial Coefficients
Exercises in binomial coefficient calculation:
10! 10 9 8 7!
C3
10
120
3!7! 3 2 1 7!
15! 15 14 13 12 11
C 15
3, 003
5 4 3 2 1
10
10!5!
100! 100 99 98 97
C 100
3,921, 225
4 3 2 1
4
4!96!

Sec 3=6 Binomial Distribution 29

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Binomial Distribution Definition
The random variable X that equals the number
of trials that result in a success is a binomial
random variable with parameters 0 < p < 1
and n = 0, 1, ....
The probability mass function is:
f x C p 1 p
n x
n
x
x
for x 0,1,...n (3-7)
Based on the binomial expansion:
n
ka b
n k nk n
a b C
k 0

Sec 3=6 Binomial Distribution 30

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Binomial Distribution Shapes

Figure 3-8 Binomial Distributions for selected values of n and p. Distribution (a) is
symmetrical, while distributions (b) are skewed. The skew is right if p is small.

Sec 3=6 Binomial Distribution 31

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
Sec 2- 32
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Exercise 3-18: Organic Pollution-1
Each sample of water has a 10% chance of containing a
particular organic pollutant. Assume that the samples are
independent with regard to the presence of the pollutant.
Find the probability that, in the next 18 samples, exactly 2
contain the pollutant.
Answer: Let X denote the number of samples that contain the
pollutant in the next 18 samples analyzed. Then X is a
binomial random variable with p = 0.1 and n = 18

P X 2 C218 0.1 0.9 153 0.1 0.9 0.2835

2 16 2 16

0.2835 = BINOMDIST(2,18,0.1,FALSE)

Sec 3=6 Binomial Distribution 33

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Exercise 3-18: Organic Pollution-2
Determine the probability that at least 4 samples
contain the pollutant.
Answer: 18
P X 4 C 0.1 0.9
18 x 18 x
x
x4

1 P X 4
3
1 C18
x 0.1 0.9
x 18 x

x 0

0.098

0.0982 = 1 - BINOMDIST(3,18,0.1,TRUE)
Sec 3=6 Binomial Distribution 34
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Exercise 3-18: Organic Pollution-3
Now determine the probability that 3 X 7.
Answer:
7
P 3 X 7 C 0.1 0.9
18 x
0.265
18 x
x
x 3

P X 7 P X 2

0.2660 = BINOMDIST(7,18,0.1,TRUE) - BINOMDIST(2,18,0.1,TRUE)

Appendix A, Table II (pg. 705) is a cumulative binomial table for

selected values of p and n.

Sec 3=6 Binomial Distribution 35

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Binomial Mean and Variance
If X is a binomial random variable with
parameters p and n,

= E(X) = np and 2 = V(X) = np(1-p) (3-8)

Sec 3=6 Binomial Distribution 36

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Example 3-19:
For the number of transmitted bit received in error in
Example 3-16, n = 4 and p = 0.1. Find the mean and
variance of the binomial random variable.
Answer:

= E(X) = np = 4*0.1 = 0,4

2 = V(X) = np(1-p) = 4*0.1*0.9 = 3.6

= SD(X) = 1.9

Sec 3=6 Binomial Distribution 37

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
Find the mean and variance of the
binomial random variable.
Sec 2-
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
38
 Random Distributions

Uniform Normal
Distribution Distribution

Geometric Binomial Poisson

Distributions Distributions Distributions

Sec 2-
39
 Example 3-20: New Idea
The probability that a bit, sent through a digital
transmission channel, is received in error is
0.1. Assume that the transmissions are
independent. Let X denote the number of bits
transmitted until the 1st error.
P(X=5) is the probability that the 1st four bits are
transmitted correctly and the 5th bit is in error.
P(X=5) = P(OOOOE) = 0.940.1 = 0.0656.
x is the total number of bits sent.
This illustrates the geometric distribution.
Sec 3-7 Geometric & Negative Binomial Distributions 40
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
DISCRETE GEOMETRIC DISTRIBUTION

Sec 2- 41
 Geometric Distribution
Binomial distribution has:
Fixed number of trials.
Random number of successes.
Geometric distribution has reversed roles:
Random number of trials.
Fixed number of successes, in this case 1.

f(x) = p(1-p)x-1 where: (3-9)

x = 1, 2, , the number of failures until the 1st
success.
0 < p < 1, the probability of success.

Sec 3-7 Geometric & Negative Binomial Distributions 42

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Geometric Graphs

Figure 3-9 Geometric distributions for parameter p

values of 0.1 and 0.9. The graphs coincide at x = 2.
Sec 3-7 Geometric & Negative Binomial Distributions 43
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Example 3.21: Geometric Problem
The probability that a wafer contains a large particle of
contamination is 0.01. Assume that the wafers are
independent. What is the probability that exactly
125 wafers need to be analyzed before a particle is
detected?
Answer:
Let X denote the number of samples analyzed until a large
particle is detected. Then X is a geometric random variable
with parameter p = 0.01.

P(X=125) = (0.99)124(0.01) = 0.00288.

Sec 3-7 Geometric & Negative Binomial Distributions 44

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Geometric Mean & Variance
If X is a geometric random variable with
parameter p,

EX
1
and V X
2

1 p
(3-10)
2
p p

Sec 3-7 Geometric & Negative Binomial Distributions 45

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Exercise 3-22: Geometric Problem
Consider the transmission of bits in Exercise 3-20.
Here, p = 0.1. Find the mean and standard deviation.
Answer:
Mean = = E(X) = 1 / p = 1 / 0.1 = 10

Variance = 2 = V(X) = (1-p) / p2 = 0.9 / 0.01 = 90

Standard deviation = sqrt(90) = 9.487

Sec 3-7 Geometric & Negative Binomial Distributions 46

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Random Distributions

Uniform Normal
Distribution Distribution

Geometric Binomial Poisson

Distributions Distributions Distributions

Sec 2-
47
POISSON DISTRIBUTION

Sec 2- 48
Birth death process

Sec 2- 49
 Poisson Distribution
As the number of trials (n) in a binomial experiment
increases to infinity while the binomial mean (np)
remains constant, the binomial distribution becomes
the Poisson distribution.
Example 3-30:
Let np E x , so p n

P X x n
x
p 1 p
x

n x

n
n x

x

1
x n n
e x

x!

Sec 23-9 Poisson Distribution 50
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Poisson Distribution Definition
The random variable X that equals the number
of events in a Poisson process is a Poisson
random variable with parameter > 0, and the
probability mass function is:

e x
f x for x 0,1, 2,3,... (3-16)
x!

Sec 23-9 Poisson Distribution 51

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Poisson Graphs

Figure 3-14 Poisson distributions for = 0.1, 2, 5.

Sec 23-9 Poisson Distribution 52
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Example 3-32: Calculations for Wire Flaws-1
For the case of the thin copper wire, suppose that the
number of flaws follows a Poisson distribution of 2.3
flaws per mm. Let X denote the number of flaws in 1
mm of wire. Find the probability of exactly 2 flaws in
1 mm of wire.
Answer:
e2.3 2.32
P X 2 0.265
2!

In Excel
0.26518 = POISSON(2, 2.3, FALSE)

Sec 23-9 Poisson Distribution 53

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Example 3-32: Calculations for Wire Flaws-2
Determine the probability of 10 flaws in 5 mm of wire.
Now let X denote the number of flaws in 5 mm of
wire.
Answer:
E X 5 mm 2.3 flaws/mm =11.5 flaws
10
11.5
P X 10 e11.5 0.113
10!

In Excel
0.1129 = POISSON(10, 11.5, FALSE)

Sec 23-9 Poisson Distribution 54

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Example 3-32: Calculations for Wire Flaws-3
Determine the probability of at least 1 flaw in 2 mm of
wire. Now let X denote the number of flaws in 2 mm
of wire. Note that P(X 1) requires terms.
Answer:

E X 2 mm 2.3 flaws/mm =4.6 flaws

4.60
P X 1 1 P X 0 1 e4.6 0.9899
0!

In Excel
0.989948 = 1 - POISSON(0, 4.6, FALSE)

Sec 23-9 Poisson Distribution 55

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Poisson Mean & Variance
If X is a Poisson random variable with parameter ,
then:

= E(X) = and 2=V(X) = (3-17)

The mean and variance of the Poisson model are

the same. If the mean and variance of a data set
are not about the same, then the Poisson model
would not be a good representation of that set.

The derivation of the mean and variance is shown in the text.

Sec 2- 56
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
Sec 2- 57
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.
 Important Terms & Concepts of Chapter 3
Bernoulli trial Mean discrete random variable

Binomial distribution Mean function of a discrete random

variable
Cumulative probability distribution
discrete random variable Negative binominal distribution

Discrete uniform distribution Poisson distribution

Expected value of a function of a Poisson process

random variable
Probability distribution discrete
Finite population correction factor random variable

Geometric distribution Probability mass function

Hypergeometric distribution Standard deviation discrete random

variable
Lack of memory property discrete
random variable Variance discrete random variable

Sec 3 Summary 58
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, by Montgomery and Runger.