A medical test will be positive for 0.05% of people and negative for everyone else. Suppose a hospital will test 4000 patients each day. Use an appropriate approximation to find the probability that 5 people test positive tomorrow. (5SF)

Note that we have a constant probability, fixed number of tests, independent patients and only two outcomes, so we can write a binomial distribution X~Bin(4000,0.0005) where X is the random variable representing the number of patients who test positive.Use a Poisson approximation with L=np=2, so P(X=5) = ~(e^(-2)2^5)/5! = 0.036089

JM
Answered by John M. Maths tutor

3253 Views

See similar Maths A Level tutors

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

Particles P and Q of masses 0.4kg and m kg are joined by a light inextensible string over a smooth pulley. When released Q accelerates downward at 2.45ms^-2. Find m.


Prove why the quadratic formula works


How do I find the equation of the tangent to y = e^(x^2) at the point x = 4?


Integrate y=2x^2 +4x-1


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning