law of large numbers

noun phrase

: a theorem in mathematical statistics: the probability that the absolute value of the difference between the mean of a population sample and the mean of the population from which it is drawn is greater than an arbitrarily small amount approaches zero as the size of the sample approaches infinity

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of law of large numbers was in 1911

Dictionary Entries Near law of large numbers

Cite this Entry

“Law of large numbers.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/law%20of%20large%20numbers. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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