Evaluates the Poisson probability function.

Synopsis

#include <imsls.h>

float imsls_f_poisson_pdf (int k, float theta)

The type double function is imsls_d_poisson_pdf.

Required Arguments

int k  (Input)
Argument for which the Poisson distribution function is to be evaluated.

float theta  (Input)
Mean of the Poisson distribution.  theta must be positive.

Return Value

Function value, the probability that a Poisson random variable takes a value equal to k.

Description

Function imsls_f_poisson_pdf evaluates the probability function of a Poisson random variable with parameter theta. theta, which is the mean of the Poisson random variable, must be positive. The probability function (with q = theta) is

f(x) = e−θ qk/k!,      for k = 0, 1, 2,¼

imsls_f_poisson_pdf evaluates this function directly, taking logarithms and using the log gamma function.

 

Figure 11-2   Poisson Probability Function

Example

Suppose X is a Poisson random variable with q = 10. In this example, we evaluate the probability function at 7.

#include "imsls.h"

 

void main () {

  int k = 7;

  float theta = 10.0;

 

  printf ("The probability that X is equal to 7 is %g.\n",

         imsls_f_poisson_pdf (k, theta));

}

Output

 

The probability that X is equal to 7 is 0.0900792.

 

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