to the Method of Least Squares. 22 7 



1876 LuROTH. ' Vergleichung von zwei Werthen des wahrscliein- 



licheu Fehlers.' Astroii. JVachr., Vol. LXXXVII, col. '209-220. 



The usual formula is compared with a new formula and shown to 

 give larger values. 



1876 Saffokd. ' On the Method of Least Squares.' Proc. Anier. 

 Acad., Vol. XI, pp. 19;^-201. 



"The main object of this paper is to give rnles for good observing 

 derived from this theory." Hints for abbreviating computations are 

 added. 



1876 Skinner. '■ Principles of Approximate Computations.'' New 

 York, ]2mo, pj). v, 98. 



Presents simple rules for conducting computations involving ap- 

 proximate quantities, in such a manner as to require the fewest 

 figures and to show at once the degree of accuracy of the result. 



1876 Stone. ' Sur le principe de la Moyenne arithmetique. 

 Astron. Nachr., LXXXVIII, col. 61-64. 



Points out that some of the assumptions of Schiaparelm's proo^ 

 of 1875 agree with those of his OAvn proof of 1873. The article is in 

 English. 



1 876 Venn. ' IVie Logic of Chance. An Essay on the founda- 

 tions and province of the Theory of Probability, toith special refer- 

 ence to its logical bearings and its applications in Morcd and Mental 

 Science.'' London, second edition, 8vo, pp. xxvii, 488. 



Venn's views are: P^irst, almost any regular and symmetrical 

 method of treating the errors of ol)servation will tend to approximate 

 indetinitely toward the truth as the number of observations is indefi- 

 nitely multiplied, and this whatever be the law of facility ; secondly, 

 the iNIethod of Least Squares is the best method (upon the reasonably 

 probable supposition of the universality of the exponential law), that 

 is, it approximates quicker to the truth as the number of observations 

 is increased than any other method ; but its superiority over other 

 reasonable methods is small in comparison with their common superi- 

 ority over single observations. 



'■Jahrhui'h ilber die Fortschritte der Matheniatik.'' Berlin, 8vo. 

 One vol. of about 750 pages appears yearly in .3 parts. 



This invaluable publication has been of great use to me in preparing 

 the above list for the years 1868-75. Vol. VIII (not yet issued) 

 embracing the literature for 1876, will undoubtedly contain the titles 

 of some writings on the Method of Least Squares which are not given 

 here. 



