How to read the table: each cell shows P(X = k) = e−λ·λk/k! Rows: values of k. Columns: values of λ. For k much larger than λ the probabilities are practically 0 (shown as 0.0000).
Click a cell to read the value.
P(X = k) for λ from 0.5 to 10
| k | λ = 0.5 | λ = 1 | λ = 1.5 | λ = 2 | λ = 2.5 | λ = 3 | λ = 3.5 | λ = 4 | λ = 4.5 | λ = 5 | λ = 6 | λ = 7 | λ = 8 | λ = 9 | λ = 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0.6065 | 0.3679 | 0.2231 | 0.1353 | 0.0821 | 0.0498 | 0.0302 | 0.0183 | 0.0111 | 0.0067 | 0.0025 | 0.0009 | 0.0003 | 0.0001 | 0.0000 |
| 1 | 0.3033 | 0.3679 | 0.3347 | 0.2707 | 0.2052 | 0.1494 | 0.1057 | 0.0733 | 0.0500 | 0.0337 | 0.0149 | 0.0064 | 0.0027 | 0.0011 | 0.0005 |
| 2 | 0.0758 | 0.1839 | 0.2510 | 0.2707 | 0.2565 | 0.2240 | 0.1850 | 0.1465 | 0.1125 | 0.0842 | 0.0446 | 0.0223 | 0.0107 | 0.0050 | 0.0023 |
| 3 | 0.0126 | 0.0613 | 0.1255 | 0.1804 | 0.2138 | 0.2240 | 0.2158 | 0.1954 | 0.1687 | 0.1404 | 0.0892 | 0.0521 | 0.0286 | 0.0150 | 0.0076 |
| 4 | 0.0016 | 0.0153 | 0.0471 | 0.0902 | 0.1336 | 0.1680 | 0.1888 | 0.1954 | 0.1898 | 0.1755 | 0.1339 | 0.0912 | 0.0573 | 0.0337 | 0.0189 |
| 5 | 0.0002 | 0.0031 | 0.0141 | 0.0361 | 0.0668 | 0.1008 | 0.1322 | 0.1563 | 0.1708 | 0.1755 | 0.1606 | 0.1277 | 0.0916 | 0.0607 | 0.0378 |
| 6 | 0.0000 | 0.0005 | 0.0035 | 0.0120 | 0.0278 | 0.0504 | 0.0771 | 0.1042 | 0.1281 | 0.1462 | 0.1606 | 0.1490 | 0.1221 | 0.0911 | 0.0631 |
| 7 | 0.0000 | 0.0001 | 0.0008 | 0.0034 | 0.0099 | 0.0216 | 0.0385 | 0.0595 | 0.0824 | 0.1044 | 0.1377 | 0.1490 | 0.1396 | 0.1171 | 0.0901 |
| 8 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0001 | 0.0009 | 0.0031 | 0.0081 | 0.0169 | 0.0298 | 0.0463 | 0.0653 | 0.1033 | 0.1304 | 0.1396 | 0.1318 | 0.1126 |
| 9 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0002 | 0.0009 | 0.0027 | 0.0066 | 0.0132 | 0.0232 | 0.0363 | 0.0688 | 0.1014 | 0.1241 | 0.1318 | 0.1251 |
| 10 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0002 | 0.0008 | 0.0023 | 0.0053 | 0.0104 | 0.0181 | 0.0413 | 0.0710 | 0.0993 | 0.1186 | 0.1251 |
| 11 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0002 | 0.0007 | 0.0019 | 0.0043 | 0.0082 | 0.0225 | 0.0452 | 0.0722 | 0.0970 | 0.1137 |
| 12 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0001 | 0.0002 | 0.0006 | 0.0016 | 0.0034 | 0.0113 | 0.0263 | 0.0481 | 0.0728 | 0.0948 |
| 13 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0001 | 0.0002 | 0.0006 | 0.0013 | 0.0052 | 0.0142 | 0.0296 | 0.0504 | 0.0729 |
| 14 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0001 | 0.0002 | 0.0005 | 0.0022 | 0.0071 | 0.0169 | 0.0324 | 0.0521 |
| 15 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0001 | 0.0002 | 0.0009 | 0.0033 | 0.0090 | 0.0194 | 0.0347 |
| 16 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0003 | 0.0014 | 0.0045 | 0.0109 | 0.0217 |
| 17 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0001 | 0.0006 | 0.0021 | 0.0058 | 0.0128 |
| 18 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0002 | 0.0009 | 0.0029 | 0.0071 |
| 19 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0001 | 0.0004 | 0.0014 | 0.0037 |
| 20 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0002 | 0.0006 | 0.0019 |
| 21 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0001 | 0.0003 | 0.0009 |
| 22 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0001 | 0.0004 |
| 23 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0002 |
| 24 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0001 |
| 25 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 |
| 26 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 |
| 27 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 |
| 28 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 |
| 29 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 |
| 30 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 |
How to read the table: each cell shows P(X ≤ k) = Σᵢ₌₀ᵏ e−λ·λi/i! For P(X > k) use the complement: 1 − P(X ≤ k). For P(a ≤ X ≤ b) = P(X ≤ b) − P(X ≤ a − 1).
Click a cell to read the value.
P(X ≤ k) for λ from 0.5 to 10
| k | λ = 0.5 | λ = 1 | λ = 1.5 | λ = 2 | λ = 2.5 | λ = 3 | λ = 3.5 | λ = 4 | λ = 4.5 | λ = 5 | λ = 6 | λ = 7 | λ = 8 | λ = 9 | λ = 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0.6065 | 0.3679 | 0.2231 | 0.1353 | 0.0821 | 0.0498 | 0.0302 | 0.0183 | 0.0111 | 0.0067 | 0.0025 | 0.0009 | 0.0003 | 0.0001 | 0.0000 |
| 1 | 0.9098 | 0.7358 | 0.5578 | 0.4060 | 0.2873 | 0.1991 | 0.1359 | 0.0916 | 0.0611 | 0.0404 | 0.0174 | 0.0073 | 0.0030 | 0.0012 | 0.0005 |
| 2 | 0.9856 | 0.9197 | 0.8088 | 0.6767 | 0.5438 | 0.4232 | 0.3208 | 0.2381 | 0.1736 | 0.1247 | 0.0620 | 0.0296 | 0.0138 | 0.0062 | 0.0028 |
| 3 | 0.9982 | 0.9810 | 0.9344 | 0.8571 | 0.7576 | 0.6472 | 0.5366 | 0.4335 | 0.3423 | 0.2650 | 0.1512 | 0.0818 | 0.0424 | 0.0212 | 0.0103 |
| 4 | 0.9998 | 0.9963 | 0.9814 | 0.9473 | 0.8912 | 0.8153 | 0.7254 | 0.6288 | 0.5321 | 0.4405 | 0.2851 | 0.1730 | 0.0996 | 0.0550 | 0.0293 |
| 5 | 1.0000 | 0.9994 | 0.9955 | 0.9834 | 0.9580 | 0.9161 | 0.8576 | 0.7851 | 0.7029 | 0.6160 | 0.4457 | 0.3007 | 0.1912 | 0.1157 | 0.0671 |
| 6 | 1.0000 | 0.9999 | 0.9991 | 0.9955 | 0.9858 | 0.9665 | 0.9347 | 0.8893 | 0.8311 | 0.7622 | 0.6063 | 0.4497 | 0.3134 | 0.2068 | 0.1301 |
| 7 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9998 | 0.9989 | 0.9958 | 0.9881 | 0.9733 | 0.9489 | 0.9134 | 0.8666 | 0.7440 | 0.5987 | 0.4530 | 0.3239 | 0.2202 |
| 8 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9998 | 0.9989 | 0.9962 | 0.9901 | 0.9786 | 0.9597 | 0.9319 | 0.8472 | 0.7291 | 0.5925 | 0.4557 | 0.3328 |
| 9 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9997 | 0.9989 | 0.9967 | 0.9919 | 0.9829 | 0.9682 | 0.9161 | 0.8305 | 0.7166 | 0.5874 | 0.4579 |
| 10 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9999 | 0.9997 | 0.9990 | 0.9972 | 0.9933 | 0.9863 | 0.9574 | 0.9015 | 0.8159 | 0.7060 | 0.5830 |
| 11 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9999 | 0.9997 | 0.9991 | 0.9976 | 0.9945 | 0.9799 | 0.9467 | 0.8881 | 0.8030 | 0.6968 |
| 12 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9999 | 0.9997 | 0.9992 | 0.9980 | 0.9912 | 0.9730 | 0.9362 | 0.8758 | 0.7916 |
| 13 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9999 | 0.9997 | 0.9993 | 0.9964 | 0.9872 | 0.9658 | 0.9261 | 0.8645 |
| 14 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9999 | 0.9998 | 0.9986 | 0.9943 | 0.9827 | 0.9585 | 0.9165 |
| 15 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9999 | 0.9995 | 0.9976 | 0.9918 | 0.9780 | 0.9513 |
| 16 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9998 | 0.9990 | 0.9963 | 0.9889 | 0.9730 |
| 17 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9999 | 0.9996 | 0.9984 | 0.9947 | 0.9857 |
| 18 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9999 | 0.9993 | 0.9976 | 0.9928 |
| 19 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9997 | 0.9989 | 0.9965 |
| 20 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9999 | 0.9996 | 0.9984 |
| 21 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9998 | 0.9993 |
| 22 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9999 | 0.9997 |
| 23 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 0.9999 |
| 24 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 |
| 25 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 |
| 26 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 |
| 27 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 |
| 28 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 |
| 29 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 |
| 30 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 | 1.0000 |
How to use these tables
Poisson Distribution
The Poisson distribution models the number of events occurring in an interval of time or space, when the events occur independently at a mean rate λ. Its probability mass function is:
\( P(X = k) = \dfrac{e^{-\lambda}\,\lambda^k}{k!}, \quad k = 0, 1, 2, \ldots \)
The mean and variance coincide: E[X] = Var[X] = λ.
Useful properties
- Sum of Poissons: if X ~ Po(λ₁) and Y ~ Po(λ₂) are independent, then X + Y ~ Po(λ₁ + λ₂).
- Approximation to the binomial: B(n, p) ≈ Po(np) when n is large and p is small (np ≤ 5 as a guideline).
- Normal approximation: for large λ, Po(λ) ≈ N(λ, λ).