You are here

On Laplace's Extension of the Buffon Needle Problem

by Barry J. Arnow (Kean College of New Jersey)

This article originally appeared in:
College Mathematics Journal
January, 1994

Subject classification(s): Statistics and Probability | Probability
Applicable Course(s): 6.1 Probability & Statistics

The classical Buffon needle problem is to find the probability that a needle of length \(n\) when dropped on a floor made of boards of width \(b\) will cross a crack between the boards.


A pdf copy of the article can be viewed by clicking below. Since the copy is a faithful reproduction of the actual journal pages, the article may not begin at the top of the first page.

To open this file please click here.

These pdf files are furnished by JSTOR.

Classroom Capsules would not be possible without the contribution of JSTOR.

JSTOR provides online access to pdf copies of 512 journals, including all three print journals of the Mathematical Association of America: The American Mathematical Monthly, College Mathematics Journal, and Mathematics Magazine. We are grateful for JSTOR's cooperation in providing the pdf pages that we are using for Classroom Capsules.

Capsule Course Topic(s):
Probability | Famous Problems, Buffon's Needle
Average: 3 (23 votes)