FUSS. 349 



^ ^ 4 V2 / _ 4 («2+Z>)r V2 -r^ (27r4-4) 



ao -r 

 4 



BufFon gives an incorrect result. 



653. The remainder of Buffon's essay is devoted to subjects 

 unconnected with the Theory of Probability. One of the sub- 

 jects is the 5ca^^5 0/ 7iotof ton; Buffon recommends the duodenary 

 scale. Another of the subjects is the unit of length : Buffon re- 

 commends the length of a pendulum which beats seconds at the 

 equator. Another of the subjects is the quadrature of the circle : 

 Buffon pretends to demonstrate that this is impossible. His de- 

 monstration however is worthless, for it would equally apply to 

 any curve, and shew that no curve could be rectified ; and this we 

 know would be a false conclusion. 



654. After the Essay we have a large collection of results 

 connected with the duration of human life, which Buffon deduced 

 from tables he had formerly published. 



Buffon's results amount to expressing in numbers the following 

 formula : For a person aged n years the odds are as a to 5 that 

 he will live x more years. 



Buffon tabulates this formula for all integral values of n up 

 to 99, and for various values of x. 



After these results follow other tables and observations con- 

 nected with them. The tables include the numbers of births, 

 marriages, and deaths, at Paris, from 1709 to 1766. 



655. Some remarks on Buffon's views will be found in Con- 

 dorcet's JEJssai...de V Analyse... ^^digQ LXXI., and in Dugald Stewart's 

 Works edited by Hamilton, Vol. i. pages 369, 616. 



656. We have next to notice some investigations by Fuss 

 under the following titles : Recherches sur tin j^^^oblhne du Calcul 

 des Frobahilites par Nicolas Fuss. Supplement au m^moire sur un 

 prohleme du Calcid des Prohabilites... 



The Recherckes... occupy pages 81 — 92 of the Pars Postei^or 

 of the volume for 1779 of the Acta Acad. ...Petrop.; the date of 

 publication is 1783. 



