On V. Ya. Buniakovsky's work in the theory of probability (Q1205969): Difference between revisions

M. V. Ostrogradsky (1801-1862) and his contemporary V. Ya. Buniakovsky (1804-1889) may be thought of as having brought French probabilistic ideas to the Russian Empire after their studies in Paris, and formed a base for the development of probability in the Empire prior to the impetus due to P. L. Chebyshev (1821-1894). The less-known Buniakovsky is mainly remembered (at least within probability theory) for his book of 1846 Osnovaniia Matematicheskoi Teorii Veroiatnostei (Foundations of the Mathematical Theory of Probability), in connection with which he is credited with the development of Russian probabilistic terminology. Another aim was to make intelligible Laplace's (1812) Théorie analytique des probabilités. The present author begins with ``... I describe all of his writings devoted to the theory of probability ... Other publications on my subject do exist ... but they are too brief''. He touches also on Buniakovsky's study of linguistics and population statistics.