Equipartitions and a Distribution for Numbers: A Statistical Model for Benford's Law

A statistical model for the fragmentation of a conserved quantity is analyzed, using the principle of maximum entropy and the theory of partitions. Upper and lower bounds for the restricted partitioning problem are derived and applied to the distribution of fragments. The resulting power law directl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inarXiv.org
Main Authors Iafrate, Joseph R, Miller, Steven J, Strauch, Frederick W
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 28.03.2015
Subjects
Digits
Lower bounds
Maximum entropy
Statistical models
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Summary:A statistical model for the fragmentation of a conserved quantity is analyzed, using the principle of maximum entropy and the theory of partitions. Upper and lower bounds for the restricted partitioning problem are derived and applied to the distribution of fragments. The resulting power law directly leads to Benford's law for the first digits of the parts.
ISSN:2331-8422