Subject

Math

Results that sound like tricks — starting with a law hiding in the first digits of almost any list of numbers, which is exactly why it catches fraud. Proven, not just paradoxical.

1 essay

Math

Newest essay · Math

The Hidden Law That Catches Liars (Benford's Law)

Take any big pile of real-world numbers — country populations, river lengths, a year of bank transactions — and look only at the first digit of each. You'd guess a "1" shows up about 1 time in 9 (11%).

Measured

Jul 14