One of the things I really enjoy about this list is how much I learn from
it. Thanks to everyone who recommended Professor Stigler's book,
Statistics on the Table: The History of Statistical Concepts and Methods.
I just finished reading it. What a delightful collection of
erudite essays.
On p. 151, and again on p. 179, Stigler discusses Galton's "probability
machine" (the Quincunx). Stigler comments that he tried to build one,
and found it very hard to do (see fig. 9.2 on p. 179). I can
understand why it would be hard to construct a working model. If one of
the nails or pins was slightly off, it would throw off the resulting
distribution. (not exactly what I would want to show my students...)
But it also seemed to me that it would be easy to do using a graphics
program. Surely in these days of computer-games there must be some
pinball game, or something like the Japanese Pachinko, that could serve as
a starting point.
So my question is, does anybody know of a Quincunx program, and if so how
would I find it/get a copy/ etc.?? I don't think I can take the time
right now to write the program myself, and besides, there may be one
already out there...
TIA.
Mike
===========================================================================
This list is open to everyone. Occasionally, people lacking respect
for other members of the list send messages that are inappropriate
or unrelated to the list's discussion topics. Please just delete the
offensive email.
For information concerning the list, please see the following web page:
http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/
===========================================================================
