Abstract
IN an earlier note1 it is shown that the distribution of first digits of the numbers in a table will obey a logarithmic law provided that a certain sum can be replaced by an integral. We shall here discuss this approximation in more detail. The notation used will be the same as before, f(x) giving the distribution of the numbers and F(p) the distribution of the significant figures. We shall also introduce the distribution of the logarithms of the numbers; setting y = In x, we have for the fraction of entries with logarithms between y and y + dy:
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Nature, 154. 800 (1944).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
FURRY, W., HURWITZ, H. Distribution of Numbers and Distribution of Significant Figures. Nature 155, 52–53 (1945). https://doi.org/10.1038/155052a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/155052a0
This article is cited by
-
On Benford's law
Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics (1984)
-
Frequency distributions of scientific performance a bibliography of Lotka's law and related phenomena
Scientometrics (1978)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.