GNU Scientific Library – Reference Manual: The Poisson Distribution

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### 20.30 The Poisson Distribution

Function: unsigned int gsl_ran_poisson (const gsl_rng * r, double mu)

  This function returns a random integer from the Poisson distribution with mean mu. The probability distribution for Poisson variates is,

      p(k) = {\mu^k \over k!} \exp(-\mu)

  for k >= 0.

Function: double gsl_ran_poisson_pdf (unsigned int k, double mu)

  This function computes the probability p(k) of obtaining k from a Poisson distribution with mean mu, using the formula given above.

Function: double gsl_cdf_poisson_P (unsigned int k, double mu)
Function: double gsl_cdf_poisson_Q (unsigned int k, double mu)

  These functions compute the cumulative distribution functions P(k), Q(k) for the Poisson distribution with parameter mu.