Remarks on the probabilities of error in physical observations, and on the density of the Earth, considered, especially with regard to the reduction of experiments on the pendulum. In a letter to Capt. Henry Kater, F. R. S. By Thomas Young, M. D. For. Sec. R. S
In the first section of this letter, Dr. Young proceeds to examine in what manner the apparent constancy of many general results, subject to numerous causes of diversity, may be best explained; and shows that the combination of many independent causes of error, each liable to incessant fluctuation, has a natural tendency, dependent on their multiplicity and independence, to diminish the aggregate variation of their joint effect; a position illustrated by the simple case of supposing an equal large number of black and white balls to be thrown into a box, and 100 of them to be drawn out at once or in succession; when it is demonstrated that there is 1 chance in 12 1/2; that exactly 50 of each kind will be drawn, and an even chance that there will not be more than 53 of either; and that it is barely possible that 100 black, or 100 white, should be drawn in succession. From calculations contained in this paper, Dr. Young infers that the original conditions of the probability of different errors do not considerably modify the conclusions respecting the accuracy of the mean result, because their effect is comprehended in the magnitude of the mean error from which these conclusions are deduced. The author also shows that the error of the mean, on account of this limitation is never likely to be greater than six sevenths of the mean of all the errors divided by the square root of the number of observations.