3.2.11: Let X have a Poisson distribution. If P (X = 1) = P (X = 3), find the mode of the distribution.

Solution: Mode of the distribution is the value of x that maximize the pdf of pmf of the random variable.
mx e−m
X has Poisson distribution. Therefore p(x) = , x = 0, 1, 2, . . ., zero otherwise. Given that
x!
P (X = 1) = P (X = 3)
m1 e−m m3 e−m
=⇒ =
1! 3!
m3
=⇒ m =
6
=⇒ m3 − 6m = 0
√ √ √
On solving this we√get m√= 0, − 6, 6. Since m is positive we have m = 6.
x − 6
6 e
Therefore p(x) = , x = 0, 1, 2, . . ..
x!
Now consider
√ x −√6
p(x) 6 e (x − 1)!
= × √ x−1 √
p(x − 1) x! 6 e− 6
√
6
=
x √
≤ 1 ∀x ≥ 6

p(x) √
That is ≤ 1 for all x ≥ 6 ≈ 2.445. Therefore we have p(x) ≤ p(x − 1) for all x ≥ 3. That is
p(x − 1)
p(2) ≥ p(3) ≥ p(4) ≥ · · · . Also given that p(1) = p(3). Therefore we have p(2) ≥ p(x) for all x = 0, 1, 2, 3, . . ..
Hence the mode of the distribution is 2.