POISSON.DIST

Definition

Returns the Poisson distribution. A common application of the Poisson distribution is predicting the number of events over a specific time, such as the number of cars arriving at a toll plaza in 1 minute.

Sample Usage

Syntax

POISSON.DIST(x,mean,cumulative)

The POISSON.DIST function syntax has the following arguments:

• X     Required. The number of events.

• Mean     Required. The expected numeric value.

• Cumulative     Required. A logical value that determines the form of the probability distribution returned. If cumulative is TRUE, POISSON.DIST returns the cumulative Poisson probability that the number of random events occurring will be between zero and x inclusive; if FALSE, it returns the Poisson probability mass function that the number of events occurring will be exactly x.

Remarks

• If x is not an integer, it is truncated.

• If x or mean is nonnumeric, POISSON.DIST returns the #VALUE! error value.

• If x < 0, POISSON.DIST returns the #NUM! error value.

• If mean < 0, POISSON.DIST returns the #NUM! error value.

• POISSON.DIST is calculated as follows.

  For cumulative = FALSE:

  

  For cumulative = TRUE:

  

In order to use the POISSON.DIST formula, start with your edited Excellentable:

Then type in the POISSON.DIST formula in the area you would like to display the outcome:

By adding the values you would like to calculate the POISSON.DIST formula for, Excellentable will generate the outcome: