Probability Distributions

Question 1

Which probability distribution is illustrated by the following example: number of fish parasitized by a gut parasite among 25 fish randomly sampled in a lake.

Answer 1

Binomial distribution

Question 2

Which probability distribution is illustrated by the following example: standardized mean of a sample drawn from a normal population, with (sample variance)^2 known

Answer 2

Standard normal distribution

Question 3

Which probability distribution is illustrated by the following example: mean of a sample of size 100 drawn from a normal population.

Answer 3

Non-standard normal distribution

Question 4

Which probability distribution is illustrated by the following example: mean of a sample of size 51 drawn from a non-normal population.

Answer 4

Non-standard normal distribution

Question 5

Which probability distribution is illustrated by the following example: number of power shutdowns at home in a year.

Answer 5

Poisson distribution

Question 6

Which probability distribution is illustrated by the following example: number of unplanned power shutdowns on campus in the fall term.

Answer 6

Poisson distribution

Question 7

Which probability distribution is illustrated by the following example: mean of a sample of size 51 drawn from a non-normal population.

Answer 7

Non-standard normal distribution

Question 8

Give three key expressions that characterize the binomial probability distribution.

Answer 8

1) Discrete quantitative distribution
2) Counts the number of “successes” in n “trials” with a certain probability “p”
3) There are two possible outcomes for each probabilistic experiment

Question 9

Give three key expressions that characterize the poisson probability distribution.

Answer 9

1) Discrete quantitative distribution
2) Counts the number of events of interest within a certain time/space interval
3) Events occur at a constant rate “lambda” over time/space