AI engineering glossary · Probability
What is poisson distribution?
Poisson distribution: The distribution of how many events occur in a fixed interval of time or space when they happen independently at a constant average rate lambda: P(k) = e^(-lambda) lambda^k / k!. Both its mean and variance equal lambda.
Poisson distribution: an example
A helpline gets 4 calls a minute on average; the chance of exactly 2 calls in a minute is e^(-4) x 4^2 / 2, about 0.147.
Related terms
More Probability terms
- Poisson process
- Population
- Posterior probability
- Prior probability
- Probability
- Probability axioms
- Probability density function
- Probability distribution
Where you learn it
Poisson distribution is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.