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Compatibility function

POISSON

Returns the Poisson distribution; replaced by POISSON.DIST.

Rarely usedDifficulty 1400 · AdvancedUsage rank #404 of 520
Practice · 2 questions →

When to use it

The Poisson distribution. Replaced by POISSON.DIST.

The shape of it

Syntax
=POISSON(x, mean, cumulative)

Worked examples

  • Cumulative

    =POISSON(2,5,TRUE) → 0.124652

    Two or fewer events when the mean is 5.

  • Exactly two

    =POISSON(2,5,FALSE) → 0.084224

    Exactly two.

  • Zero events

    =POISSON(0,3,FALSE) → 0.049787068

    No events when the mean is 3.

Worth knowing

  • POISSON.DIST is identical.
  • Mean must be per the same interval as the count.
  • Non-integer x is truncated.

Where it goes wrong

  • #NUM! for negative x or mean.
  • Flagged by the Compatibility Checker.

Related

FORECASTMODEPERCENTILEQUARTILERANKSTDEV

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