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91Ó°ÊÓ

A large proportion of small businesses in the United States fail during the first few years of operation. On average, \(1.6\) businesses file for bankruptcy per day in a particular large city. a. Using the Poisson probability distribution formula, find the probability that exactly 3 businesses will file for bankruptcy on a given day in this city. b. Using the Poisson probabilities table, find the probability that the number of businesses that will file for bankruptcy on a given day in this city is \(\begin{array}{lll}\text { in } 2 \text { to } 3 & \text { ii. more than } 3 & \text { iii. less than } 3\end{array}\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
After performing all the calculations for the different steps, the probabilities should be as follows: a) The probability that exactly 3 businesses will file for bankruptcy on a given day in this city should be approximately 0.137. b) The probability that the number of businesses that will file for bankruptcy on a given day in this city is i) in 2 to 3 is approximately 0.323 ii) more than 3 is approximately 0.142 iii) less than 3 is approximately 0.857. These answers are subject to slight variations due to rounding.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the parameters and the formula

The average number of businesses that file for bankruptcy in a day, also known as the rate parameter (\(λ\)) for the Poisson distribution, is 1.6. The Poisson distribution formula to find the probability for \(x\) number of events is \[P(x; λ) = \frac{λ^x e^{-λ}}{x!}\] where \(e\) is the base of the natural logarithm (≈2.71828), \(x\) is the actual number of successes, and \(λ\) is the average number of successes that result from the experiment.
02

Calculate the probability of exactly 3 businesses

Using the Poisson probability distribution formula and substituting \(λ=1.6\) and \(x=3\) we get: \[P(x=3; 1.6) = \frac{1.6^3 e^{-1.6}}{3!} \] Calculate this to get the answer.
03

Calculate the probability for businesses in range 2 to 3

This needs calculating the probability for exactly 2 businesses and exactly 3 businesses and adding them together. Using the formula from Step 1 and replacing x with 2 and 3, the needed probabilities can be calculated and then added.
04

Calculate the probability for more than 3 businesses

This essentially means calculating the probability of having exactly 1, 2 or 3 businesses and subtracting from 1. So, repeat the steps from Step 3 for x=1,2,3, and after summing the probabilities subtract it from 1.
05

Calculate the probability for less than 3 businesses

This can be accomplished by calculating the sum of probabilities when x equals 0, 1 and 2. So, repeat the steps from Step 3 for these values and sum the calculated probabilities.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Probability
Probability is a measure that quantifies the likelihood of a particular event occurring. It's a fundamental concept in statistics and helps us understand randomness. A probability value ranges from 0 to 1. If an event is certain, its probability is 1. If it's impossible, its probability is 0. In our exercise, we're using the Poisson distribution to calculate the probability of different numbers of small businesses filing for bankruptcy on any given day.

The Poisson distribution is useful for modeling events that occur randomly over a fixed period, especially when these events are rare compared to the possible number of occurrences. For example, even though many businesses exist in a city, only a small fraction might file for bankruptcy on any given day. To calculate the probability using a Poisson distribution, you'll need the average occurrence rate of an event, represented by \(λ\). This number helps in determining probabilities of different event counts.
Statistical Methods
Statistical methods provide tools for analyzing and interpreting data to make informed decisions. In our exercise, we specifically use the Poisson probability distribution formula, a critical statistical method for our analysis. It's vital in fields like finance, biology, and health, where we're often interested in how often an event occurs over a set timeframe.

The Poisson formula is \(P(x; λ) = \frac{λ^x e^{-λ}}{x!}\). To use it:
  • Identify \(λ\), the average number of events (here, business bankruptcies per day).
  • Determine \(x\), the number of events you wish to find the probability for.
  • Calculate using the formula, which includes the constant \(e\), approximately 2.71828, representing the base of natural logarithms.
These computations allow us to assess the probability of various bankruptcy counts happening within a specified day. Mastery of statistical methods is essential for interpreting real-world situations accurately.
Bankruptcy Statistics
Bankruptcy statistics provide significant insights into the economic health and stability of a region or sector. They represent the number of entities, like businesses or individuals, unable to meet financial obligations. By understanding these statistics, analysts can identify trends and potential economic risks.

In our exercise, the rate of 1.6 bankruptcies per day is an average derived from historical data. This average, known as the expected rate or \(λ\) in the Poisson distribution, forms the basis for forecasting daily events. By calculating probabilities for different numbers of business bankruptcies—such as none, a few, or many—we gain a deeper understanding of possible fluctuations. These insights are crucial for financial institutions, policymakers, and business owners to anticipate challenges and plan accordingly.
Small Business Failure
Small business failure is a common concern for entrepreneurs and has several contributing factors. Causes can include poor financial management, inadequate research, or economic downturns. In the statistical context, as seen in our exercise, we analyze the frequency of business bankruptcies to understand this phenomenon better.

Small businesses are an integral part of the economy, driving innovation and employment. However, they face significant challenges early on, and many do not survive past the initial few years. Analyzing failure statistics using methods like the Poisson distribution helps stakeholders learn from past failures. This understanding enables better decision-making and preparation, increasing the chance of success for new ventures. Additionally, awareness of common pitfalls aids in mitigating risks and improving business resilience.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A high school history teacher gives a 50 -question multiplechoice examination in which each question has four choices. The scoring includes a penalty for guessing. Each correct answer is worth 1 point, and each wrong answer costs \(1 / 2\) point. For example, if a student answers 35 questions correctly, 8 questions incorrectly, and does not answer 7 questions, the total score for this student will be \(35-(1 / 2)(8)=31\) a. What is the expected score of a student who answers 38 questions correctly and guesses on the other 12 questions? Assume that the student randomly chooses one of the four answers for each of the 12 guessed questions. b. Does a student increase his expected score by guessing on a question if he has no idea what the correct answer is? Explain. c. Does a student increase her expected score by guessing on a question for which she can eliminate one of the wrong answers? Explain.

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An instant lottery ticket costs \(\$ 2\). Out of a total of 10,000 tickets printed for this lottery, 1000 tickets contain a prize of \(\$ 5\) each, 100 tickets have a prize of \(\$ 10\) each, 5 tickets have a prize of \(\$ 1000\) each, and 1 ticket has a prize of \(\$ 5000\). Let \(x\) be the random variable that denotes the net amount a player wins by playing this lottery. Write the probability distribution of \(x\). Determine the mean and standard deviation of \(x\). How will you interpret the values of the mean and standard deviation of \(x\) ?

Let \(x\) be a discrete random variable that possesses a binomial distribution. Using the binomial formula, find the following probabilities. a. \(P(5)\) for \(n=8\) and \(p=.70\) b. \(P(3)\) for \(n=4\) and \(p=.40\) c. \(P(2)\) for \(n=6\) and \(p=.30\) Verify your answers by using Table I of Appendix \(\mathrm{B}\).

Five percent of all cars manufactured at a large auto company are lemons. Suppose two cars are selected at random from the production line of this company. Let \(x\) denote the number of lemons in this sample. Write the probability distribution of \(x\). Draw a tree diagram for this problem.

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