Question

The guidance system design of a satellite places several components in parallel. The system will function as long as at least one of the components is operational. In a particular satellite, four such components are placed in parallel. Assume that the probability of a component operating successfully is 0.9. Assume that the components operate independently of each other. What distribution describes the components of the guidance system?

Answer 1

The distribution of the components of the guidance system can be described using the Binomial distribution.

Explanation:

Suppose that the guidance system consists of n components.

It is provided that the system will function properly as long as at least one of the n components are functional.

Also, all the components operate independently of each other.

The probability that a component is operating successfully is 0.90.

Every component has the same probability of success and failures.

Thus, the components of the guidance systems follows a Binomial distribution with parameters, sample size, n and probability of success, p = 0.90.

A binomial distribution is a discrete probability distribution where each sample has exactly two outcomes; Success and Failure.

And every sample has the same probability of success.

Thus, the distribution of the components of the guidance system can be described using the Binomial distribution.