Mathematics 9709 · AS & A Level · The Poisson distribution

The Poisson distribution — practice question

A group of passengers is making the journey to Picton in a minibus. For each passenger, the probability of carrying a backpack is $0.65$, independent of the others. Each minibus has $12$ seats for passengers.
(i)[3]

Determine the probability that, on a full minibus travelling to Picton, the number of passengers carrying a backpack is between $8$ and $10$ inclusive.

(ii)[2]

Passengers board an empty minibus. Find the probability that the fourth passenger to board the minibus is the first one carrying a backpack.

(iii)[6]

Determine the probability that, in a random sample of $250$ full minibuses travelling to Picton, more than $54$ contain exactly $7$ passengers who are carrying backpacks.

Worked solution & mark scheme

This 11-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: Appropriate use of binomial probability terms, for example $^{12}C_8(0.65)^8(0.35)^4+^{12}C_9(0.65)^9(0.35)^3+^{12}C_{10}(0.65)^{10}(0.35)^2$

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