IMA Journal orf Numerical Analysis 2(4), 407-412.
ISSN/ISBN: 0272-4979 DOI: 10.1093/imanum/2.4.407
Abstract: Most numbers which are encountered are the result of some arithmetic operations. The object of this paper is to show why their leading significant digits are not uniformly distributed. It has long been surmised that the distribution of leading significant digits is logarithmic. Indeed this is already known under the assumption of invariance to scaling. In this paper we establish this distribution without any such assumption, and thus that over 30% of decimal numbers can be expected to have leading significant digit 1
Bibtex:
@article{,
title={The distribution of leading significant digits},
author={Turner, Peter R},
year={1982},
journal={IMA Journal orf Numerical Analysis},
volume={2},
number={4},
pages={407--412},
doi={10.1093/imanum/2.4.407},
}
Reference Type: Journal Article
Subject Area(s): Analysis, General Interest