Case

Chapter 5

Discrete Distributions

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The overall learning objective of Chapter 5 is to help you understand a category of probability distributions that produces only discrete outcomes, thereby enabling you to:

1. Distinguish between discrete random variables and continuous random variables.

2. Know how to determine the mean and variance of a discrete distribution.

3. Identify the type of statistical experiments that can be described by the binomial distribution and know how to work such problems.

4. Decide when to use the Poisson distribution in analyzing statistical experiments and know how to work such problems.

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5. Decide when binomial distribution problems can be approximated by the Poisson distribution and know how to work such problems.

6. Decide when to use the hypergeometric distribution and know how to work such problems

CHAPTER TEACHING STRATEGY

Chapters 5 and 6 introduce the student to several statistical distributions. It is important to differentiate between the discrete distributions of chapter 5 and the continuous distributions of chapter 6.

The approach taken in presenting the binomial distribution is to build on techniques presented in chapter 4. It can be helpful to take the time to apply the law of multiplication for independent events to a problem and demonstrate to students that sequence is important. From there, the student will more easily understand that by using combinations, one can more quickly determine the number of sequences and weigh the probability of obtaining a single sequence by that number. In a sense, we are developing the binomial formula through an inductive process. Thus, the binomial formula becomes more of a summary device than a statistical "trick". The binomial tables presented in this text are noncumulative. This makes it easier for the student to recognize that the table...