# Generalized poisson model with time parameter

I tried finding this on the internet, but with little success. How do I get a generalized expression involving rate parameter and time parameter for the Poisson process? The expression,

$P(n) = \frac{\lambda^ne^{-\lambda}}{n!}$

consider a fixed interval. I want a generalized model where time is also incorporated in the expression. Any leads? (Thanks in advance)

• incorporated how? Is this so you can include an exposure time, so that $\lambda$ is the rate per unit time and you want to write the Poisson for the count over some non-unit time $t$? – Glen_b -Reinstate Monica Apr 19 '16 at 16:00
• @Glen_b, yes, I want to write the count over some non-unit time – akashrajkn Apr 19 '16 at 16:03
• Are you assuming the rate is constant over time? – jbowman Apr 19 '16 at 16:48
• @jbowman, well, I am doing hypothesis testing, and I need to consider both the cases - constant rate and rate with updation after certain intervals – akashrajkn Apr 19 '16 at 16:50

For an exposure time $t$, where that $\lambda$ is the rate per unit time, the Poisson pmf for the count is
$p_{\lambda t}(x) = \frac{\exp(-\lambda t) (\lambda t)^x}{x!}$
• @akashrajkn No. The explanation why is given in my final sentence above -- it follows directly form a change of units. Take your new time unit to be the length of exposure (the observation time) $t$. Then the Poisson rate per (new) time unit is $\mu=\lambda t$ and we're back to a plain old Poisson with the parameter being $\mu$ (equivalently, $\lambda t$. – Glen_b -Reinstate Monica Apr 20 '16 at 11:57