View Complete Reference

Lemons, DS (1986)

On the Numbers of Things and the Distribution of first Digits

American Journal of Physics 54(9), pp. 816-817.

ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9505 DOI: 10.1119/1.14453



Abstract: I answer the question ``Why are there more small things in the world than large things?'' in terms of a probabilisitc model of partitioning a conserved quantity. Benford's empirical rule for lists of numbers, that the proportion of numbers with first digit m is log10(m+1)–log10 m, is an exact consequence of the model.


Bibtex:
@article{, title={On the numbers of things and the distribution of first digits}, author={Lemons, Don S}, journal={American Journal of Physics}, volume={54}, number={9}, pages={816--817}, year={1986}, publisher={American Association of Physics Teachers}, DOI={http://dx.doi.org/10.1119/1.14453}, }


Reference Type: Journal Article

Subject Area(s): General Interest