# Finding the MLE of a Poisson Distribution

1. Jul 28, 2008

### laura_a

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Suppose that X has a poisson distribution with parameter $$\lambda$$. Given a random sample of n observations, find the MLE of $$\lambda$$, $$\hat{\lambda}$$.

2. Relevant equations
The MLE can be found by
$$\Sigma^{n}_{i=1} \frac{e^{- \lambda} \lambda^{x_{i}}}{x_{i}!}$$
= $$e^{- \lambda} \times ( \frac{\lambda^{x_1}}{x_{1}!} + \frac{\lambda^{x_2}}{x_{2}!} + . . . )$$
=e^{- \lambda} \Sigma \lambda^{x_i} \div x_{i}! (couldn't get the latex to work from this line)
=e^{- \lambda} \Sigma \lambda^{x_i} \times \frac{1}{x_{i}!}

Now this is the bit that I think i've stuffed up - if not already

= - \lambda log(y) \times x_i \times log(\frac{1}{x_{i}}

I know what the answer is meant to be, I was given it in the text

\hat{\lambda} = \bar{x}

Can anyone tell me where I went wrong, or if I'm even close to being on the right track. I'm a correspondance student so pretty much learning it from reading the notes and the text book which has no examples!

Thanks heaps

3. The attempt at a solution

Last edited: Jul 28, 2008