Assumptions:
1) A sample of size N people
2) Draw a random number between 1-N to select a person (doesn't change the original sample population)
3) The same person can be selected infinite times if that is their fate

Question:
1) Graph the curve describing the number of drawings on the X-axis and the number of selected samples
2) How does the population size affect the number of drawings required to reach a saturation point in the population?



I've already graduated so don't worry - you're not helping me cheat

3/21/2010 8:38:47 AM

Sounds like the multinomial distribution, like a coin flip but with more than two outcomes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multinomial_distribution

The wiki page will give you the probability distribution if you want to choose a number for N and graph. Higher numbers will obviously take longer to reach everybody but everyone will be reached eventually.

3/21/2010 1:14:33 PM