Grinstead-Snell-Probability · Problem 5.1.31

Distributions and Densities

Mathematics · poisson-distribution

Problem

In one of the first studies of the Poisson distribution, von Bortkiewicz considered the frequency of deaths from kicks in the Prussian army corps. From the study of 14 corps over a 20-year period, he obtained the data shown in Table 5.5 (number of deaths: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 with corresponding number of corps: 144, 91, 32, 11, 2). Fit a Poisson distribution to this data and see if you think that the Poisson distribution is appropriate.

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