Benford's Law

noun

Ben·ford's Law ˈben-fərdz-

: a law in statistics: the probability of a particular numeral n appearing in the first decimal place of an element of a set of numbers is equal to log₁₀(1+¹/ₙ)

Note: This law describes how, in any given collection of numbers being studied, more of them will be likely to start with a 1 than any other number. 2's will appear at the beginning less often, 3's still less, and so on, at a predictable rate.

Word History

Etymology

after Frank Benford †1948 American physicist

Note: The probability was defined by Benford in "The Law of Anomalous Numbers," Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, vol. 78, no. 4 (March 31, 1938), pp. 551-72.

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of Benford's Law was in 1969

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Benford's Law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Benford%27s%20Law. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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