Central Limit Theorem
"The central limit theorem (CLT) is one of the great results of mathematics." (Chapter 18 in ) It explains the ubiquitous occurrence of the normal distribution in nature.
The theorem states that the average of many independent and identically distributed random variables with finite variance tends towards a normal distribution irrespective of the distribution followed by the original random variables. Formally, let be independent random variables with mean and variance Then the sequence of random variables
converges in distribution to a standard normal random variable.
Read more about this topic: Probability Theory
Famous quotes containing the words central, limit and/or theorem:
“My solitaria
Are the meditations of a central mind.
I hear the motions of the spirit and the sound
Of what is secret becomes, for me, a voice
That is my own voice speaking in my ear.”
—Wallace Stevens (18791955)
“No one who cannot limit himself has ever been able to write.”
—Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux (16361711)
“To insure the adoration of a theorem for any length of time, faith is not enough, a police force is needed as well.”
—Albert Camus (19131960)