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Special Discrete Probability Distributions

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Probability for Physicists

Part of the book series: Graduate Texts in Physics ((GTP))

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Abstract

The binomial (Bernoulli), multinomial, negative binomial (Pascal), and Poisson distributions are presented as the most frequently occurring discrete probability distributions in practice. The normal approximation of the binomial distribution is introduced as an example of the Laplace limit theorem, and the Poisson distribution is shown to represent a special limiting case of the binomial.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The ‘negative’ attribute in the name of the distribution originates in the property

    $$ \left( {n+r-1\atop n} \right) = (-1)^n \frac{(-r)(-r-1)(-r-2) \ldots (-r-n+1)}{n!} = (-1)^n \left( {-r \atop n} \right) . $$

    .

References

  1. I. Kuščer, A. Kodre, Mathematik in Physik und Technik (Springer, Berlin, 1993)

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  2. A.N. Philippou, The negative binomial distribution of order \(k\) and some of its properties. Biom. J. 26, 789 (1984)

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  3. R.D. Clarke, An application of the Poisson distribution. J. Inst. Actuaries 72, 481 (1946)

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  4. A.G. Frodesen, O. Skjeggestad, H. Tøfte, Probability and Statistics in Particle Physics (Universitetsforlaget, Bergen, 1979)

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  5. F. Sauli, Principles of Operation of Multiwire Proportional and Drift Chambers (CERN Reprint 77–09, Geneva, 1977)

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Correspondence to Simon Širca .

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Širca, S. (2016). Special Discrete Probability Distributions. In: Probability for Physicists. Graduate Texts in Physics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31611-6_5

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