
102 
Mathematics 
(text  continued from  page 
97) 
If  the probabilities do not remain constant over the trials and 
if 
there are 
k 
(rather than two) possible outcomes of each trial,  the 
hypergeometric  distribution 
applies.  For a sample of size 
N 
of a population  of  size T, where 
t, 
+ 
t, 
+ 
. 
. . + 
t, 
= 
T, 
n, 
+ 
n2 
+ 
. 
. 
. 
+ 
nt 
= 
N 
and 
the probability  is 
The 
Poisson  distribution 
can be used  to  determine probabilities for discrete 
random variables  where  the random variable  is  the  number of  times  that an 
event occurs in a single trial (unit of time, space, etc.). The probability function 
for a Poisson  random variable is 
where 
p 
= 
mean of  the probability  function (and also the variance) 
The cumulative probability  function is 
Univariate Analysis 
For Multivariate Analysis, see McCuen, Reference 
23, 
or other statistical texts. 
The first step in data analysis 
is 
the selection  of  the best  fitting probability 
function, often beginning with a 
graphical  analysis 
of  the frequency histogram. 
Moment ratios and 
moment-ratio diagrams 
(with 
0, 
as abscissa and 
p, 
as ordinate) 
are useful since probability  functions of known distributions have characteristic 
values  of 
p, 
and 
p,. 
Frequency  analyszs 
is  an  alternative 
to 
moment-ratio analysis  in  selecting a 
representative function. Probability  paper (see Figure 
1-59 
for  an example) is 
available  for  each distribution, and the function is  presented as  a cumulative 
probability  function. If  the data sample  has  the same distribution function as 
the function used  to scale the paper, the data will  plot  as a straight line. 
The procedure is to fit the population frequency curve as a straight line using 
the sample moments and parameters 
of 
the proposed probability  function. The 
data are then plotted by  ordering the data from the largest event to the smallest 
and using  the rank 
(i) 
of  the  event  to  obtain a probability  plotting position. 
Two of  the more common formulas are Weibull 
pp, 
= 
i/(n 
+ 
1)