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At the age of 20 Georges Buffon discovered the binomial theorem. He corresponded with Cramer on mechanics, geometry, probability, number theory and the differential and integral calculus.
His first work Sur le jeu de franc-carreau introduced differential and integral calculus into probability theory. He next wrote Théorie de la terre and became the most important natural historian of his day having great influence across a wide scientific field.
He is remembered most in mathematics for a probability experiment which he carried out calculating p by throwing sticks over his shoulder onto a tiled floor and counting the number of times the sticks fell across the lines between the tiles. This experiment caused much discussion among mathematicians which helped towards an understanding of probability.
Texto original por: J J O'Connor and E F Robertson
Click on this link to see a list of the Glossary entries for this page
| List of References (12 books/articles) | Some Quotations (2)
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| A Poster of Georges Buffon | Mathematicians born in the same country
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| Cross-references to History Topics | |
| Other references in MacTutor | Chronology: 1760 to 1780 |
| Honours awarded to Georges
Buffon (Click a link below for the full list of mathematicians honoured in this way) | |
| Lunar features | Crater Buffon |
| Paris street names | Rue Buffon (5th Arrondissement) |
| Other Web sites |
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| JOC/EFR December 1996 | School of
Mathematics and Statistics University of St Andrews, Scotland | 
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| The URL of this page
is: http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/history/Mathematicians/Buffon.htm | ||