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?

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

Step-by-step 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.