Combined independent Poisson probabilities

A question is this type if and only if it involves calculating probabilities for the sum or combination of two or more independent Poisson random variables from different sources.

4 questions

CAIE S2 2022 March Q7
7
  1. Two ponds, \(A\) and \(B\), each contain a large number of fish. It is known that \(2.4 \%\) of fish in pond \(A\) are carp and \(1.8 \%\) of fish in pond \(B\) are carp. Random samples of 50 fish from pond \(A\) and 60 fish from pond \(B\) are selected. Use appropriate Poisson approximations to find the following probabilities.
    1. The samples contain at least 2 carp from pond \(A\) and at least 2 carp from pond \(B\).
    2. The samples contain at least 4 carp altogether.
  2. The random variables \(X\) and \(Y\) have the distributions \(\operatorname { Po } ( \lambda )\) and \(\operatorname { Po } ( \mu )\) respectively. It is given that
    • \(\mathrm { P } ( X = 0 ) = [ \mathrm { P } ( Y = 0 ) ] ^ { 2 }\),
    • \(\mathrm { P } ( X = 2 ) = k [ \mathrm { P } ( Y = 1 ) ] ^ { 2 }\), where \(k\) is a non-zero constant.
    Find the value of \(k\).
    If you use the following lined page to complete the answer(s) to any question(s), the question number(s) must be clearly shown.
CAIE S2 2016 June Q7
7
  1. A large number of spoons and forks made in a factory are inspected. It is found that \(1 \%\) of the spoons and \(1.5 \%\) of the forks are defective. A random sample of 140 items, consisting of 80 spoons and 60 forks, is chosen. Use the Poisson approximation to the binomial distribution to find the probability that the sample contains
    1. at least 1 defective spoon and at least 1 defective fork,
    2. fewer than 3 defective items.
  2. The random variable \(X\) has the distribution \(\operatorname { Po } ( \lambda )\). It is given that $$\mathrm { P } ( X = 1 ) = p \quad \text { and } \quad \mathrm { P } ( X = 2 ) = 1.5 p$$ where \(p\) is a non-zero constant. Find the value of \(\lambda\) and hence find the value of \(p\).
CAIE S2 2010 June Q6
6 In restaurant \(A\) an average of 2.2\% of tablecloths are stained and, independently, in restaurant \(B\) an average of 5.8\% of tablecloths are stained.
  1. Random samples of 55 tablecloths are taken from each restaurant. Use a suitable Poisson approximation to find the probability that a total of more than 2 tablecloths are stained.
  2. Random samples of \(n\) tablecloths are taken from each restaurant. The probability that at least one tablecloth is stained is greater than 0.99 . Find the least possible value of \(n\).
OCR S3 2009 June Q2
2 The number of bacteria in 1 ml of drug \(A\) has a Poisson distribution with mean 0.5. The number of the same bacteria in 1 ml of drug \(B\) has a Poisson distribution with mean 0.75 . A mixture of these drugs used to treat a particular disease consists of 1.4 ml of drug \(A\) and 1.2 ml of drug \(B\). Bacteria in the drugs will cause infection in a patient if 5 or more bacteria are injected.
  1. Calculate the probability that, in a sample of 20 patients treated with the mixture, infection will occur in no more than one patient.
  2. State an assumption required for the validity of the calculation.