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In this article
POISSON.DIST models counts per interval — calls per minute, breakdowns per month.
Syntax
=POISSON.DIST(x, mean, cumulative)| Argument | What it means |
|---|---|
mean |
Average count per interval. |
Examples
Example 1
=POISSON.DIST(0, 3, FALSE)About 5%: chance of zero calls in a minute that averages 3.
POISSON.DIST in practice
Where you will use it
- Chance of exactly k calls in an hour
- Defects per batch
- Walk-in customers per slot
Worked example
| k | Average | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | =ROUND(POISSON.DIST(A2,B2,FALSE),4) | 0.1804 |
| 0 | 2 | =ROUND(POISSON.DIST(A3,B3,FALSE),4) | 0.1353 |
| 5 | 4 | =ROUND(POISSON.DIST(A4,B4,FALSE),4) | 0.1563 |
Results calculated in Excel.
Mistakes people make
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Cumulative flag | FALSE = exactly k, TRUE = k or fewer |
| Changing rates | Poisson assumes a steady average |
Related functions
BINOM.DIST · EXPON.DIST
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📎 Practice files for this article
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