The number and frequency of Atlantic hurricanes annually from 1940 through 2007 is shown here.
NUMBER 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Frequency 5 16 19 13 3 5 4 2 1
a) Find the probabilities of 0-8 hurricanes each season using data.
b) Assuming a Poisson distribution and using the mean number of hurricanes per season from the empirical data, compute the probabilities of experiencing 0-8 hurricanes in a season.
Compare these to your answer to part (a). How good does a Poisson distribution model this phenomenon?