Probabilities

/ˌprɑb.əˈbɪl.ə.tiz/ noun

Definition

The chances or likelihoods that something will happen, expressed as numbers between 0 and 1, where 0 means impossible and 1 means certain.

Etymology

From Latin 'probabilis' (approvable, credible) via Old French 'probabilité.' The mathematical sense developed in the 17th century when mathematicians like Pascal and Fermat created probability theory.

Kelly Says

Probability theory was literally invented to solve a gambling problem in 1654—two wealthy French gamblers asked a mathematician how to fairly split their winnings when the game had to stop early!

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