Benford's Law

Theorem

Benford's law is an empirical observation concerning the leading digits in a given number base (usually $10$).

In a data set containing data spanning several orders of magnitude, the leading digits are more likely to be small.

This article is complete as far as it goes, but it could do with expansion. In particular: Go into the details You can help $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ by adding this information. To discuss this page in more detail, feel free to use the talk page. When this work has been completed, you may remove this instance of {{Expand}} from the code. If you would welcome a second opinion as to whether your work is correct, add a call to {{Proofread}} the page.

Proof

This theorem requires a proof. You can help $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ by crafting such a proof. To discuss this page in more detail, feel free to use the talk page. When this work has been completed, you may remove this instance of {{ProofWanted}} from the code. If you would welcome a second opinion as to whether your work is correct, add a call to {{Proofread}} the page.

Source of Name

This entry was named for Frank Albert Benford.

Sources

• 2021: Richard Earl and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (6th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Benford's law