law of averages

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law of averages

n.
The principle holding that the relative frequency with which an event occurs in repeated trials will converge to a stable value over time as the number of samples increases. Also called Bernoulli's law, law of large numbers.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

law of averages

n
(Statistics) (popularly) the expectation that a possible event is bound to occur regularly with a frequency approximating to its probability, as in the (actually false) example: after five heads in a row the law of averages makes tails the better bet. Compare law of large numbers
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

law′ of av′erages


n.
1. a statistical principle formulated by Jakob Bernoulli to show a more or less predictable ratio between the number of random trials of an event and the outcomes that result.
2. the principle that, in the long run, probability as naively conceived will operate and influence any one occurrence.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.law of averages - a law affirming that in the long run probabilities will determine performance
law of nature, law - a generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature; "the laws of thermodynamics"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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References in classic literature ?
It is the law of average. Such a rule of the two diameters not only guides us toward the sun in the system and the heart in man, but draws lines through the length and breadth of the aggregate of a man's particular daily behaviors and waves of life into his coves and inlets, and where they intersect will be the height or depth of his character.
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1 has had to pay for her early success with a sequence of first round draws that had defied the Law of Average.
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"It was the law of averages for us offensively," Raymond said.
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And Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Native River's trainer right) claimed "the law of averages" dictates the number of horses carrying the virus -- currently standing at nine -- will increase, and called for racing to resume "straight away".
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The law of averages suggest certain events are bound to happen eventually purely because they haven't for a long time.
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'I think it was the law of averages, we were really due for a win,' said NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio after getting 26 points and 10 rebounds from Mo Tautuaa, 26 points and seven assists from Pringle and 25 points, nine rebounds, six steals and five feeds from Sean Anthony.
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Qatar fell into a slew of errors in the second half, and the law of averages eventually caught up with them as their outside shooting went cold.
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The law of averages suggests that there is at least a possibility that one of them is going to be successful.
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And while it's hard to see him moving out on his own today with on-fire Manchester City Palace's opponents, the Argentinian above) knows the law of averages means Pep Guardiola's men have to fire blank one day.
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LAW OF AVERAGES David Warner averages 59.15 on Australian soil, and just 36.81 away.
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BY the law of averages, even this lot in government must get something right eventually.
BY the law of averages, [...]

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