Poisson Distribution
Answer 4

p(1 or more dishes dropped) = 0.1813.

Explanation

If we play this one by the book, we have r = 0.2000 dishes dropped per hour. From the 0.2 column of the Poisson Table, we discover that the chance of no dishes dropped in one hour is p(0) = 0.8187. We then subtract this figure from 1 (the total of all possible outcomes) to get the probability of 1 or more dishes being dropped in a given hour. That is the figure supplied above.

Comment

The chance of a dropped dish isn't very great, but still, those are bigwigs. Why take chances? Send Asa out to fetch a lemon or two, from the dining commons across the campus, and tell the Chancellor, Sorry, but Asa is not available this evening.

24 Aug 2007 / Contact The Project / Exit to Resources Page