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Biometrika 1981 68(3):712-716; doi:10.1093/biomet/68.3.712
© 1981 by Biometrika Trust
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Miscllanea

Studies in the history of probability and statistics XXXIX Buffon's cycloid

PHILIP HOLGATE

Department of Statistics, Birkbeck College London

In Buffon's account of his famous problem of the needle, it is not clear how he actually obtained the answer. A conjecture is put forward in this note, based on Buffon's apparent mathematical abilities and inclinations, insofar as they can be determined from his correspondence.

Key Words: Area of cycloid • Buffon's needle • History of probability • Geometrical probability


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