Modeling a Discrete Probability Distribution

Before we start we have to learn how to implement a simple probability distribution in Excel (the same technique can be used for doing a simulation "by hand" with a random number table).

Preliminary Queue Model

Work through this spreadsheet Prelim Q lab.xlsm

Social Service Delivery Simulation

Work through this spreadsheet social-service-queue.xlsx

The Poisson Distribution

The Poisson distribution describes, among other things, the probability of a specific number of events occurring in a given time period if the events occur at a known average rate AND independent of when the previous event occurred.

A common everyday phenomenon that can be described this way is the independent arrival of clients at a point of service.

File nameFile typeSize
Prelim Q lab.xlsmZip archive data35.74 kBInfo
social-service-queue.xlsxZip archive data80.81 kBInfo
what is poisson distribution.xlsxZip archive data23.41 kBInfo