# Homework Help: Properties of Poisson Distribution

1. Sep 10, 2013

### catsonmars

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Use the Poisson distribution W=(λ^n/n!)*e^-λ to calculate <n>

2. Relevant equations
<n>=ƩW*n

3. The attempt at a solution
Since W = (λ^n/n!)*e^-λ I wind up with <n>=[(λ^n/n!)*e^-λ]*n
But I really don't know where to go from here. Should I do a Taylor Series. I've tried crossing out the top n and ended up with

[(λ^n/(n-1)!)*e^-λ] but this doesn't seem to help. If anyone can point me in the right direction or a general problem solving strategy that would be great. I'd like to demonstrate more work but I don't know what to do.

2. Sep 10, 2013

### vanhees71

Evaluate the generating function
$$Z(x)=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} W(n) \exp(-n x).$$
Then you can get expectation values by taking derivatives of this function wrt. $x$ :-).

3. Sep 10, 2013

### vela

Staff Emeritus
You need the summation.
$$\langle n \rangle = \sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{\lambda^n}{n!} e^{-\lambda} n = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{\lambda^n}{(n-1)!} e^{-\lambda}$$ Note that the lower limit changed from n=0 to n=1, since the n=0 term is 0. You just need to recognize that $e^{-\lambda}$ is a constant, so you can factor it out of the summation. Similarly, try pulling one factor of $\lambda$ out so that the exponent of $\lambda$ inside the summation matches up with the factorial.