BBC News - Higgs boson-like particle discovery claimed at LHC
Particle physics has an accepted definition for a "discovery": a five-sigma level of certainty
The number of standard deviations, or sigmas, is a measure of how unlikely it is that an experimental result is simply down to chance, in the absence of a real effect
Similarly, tossing a coin and getting a number of heads in a row may just be chance, rather than a sign of a "loaded" coin
The "three sigma" level represents about the same likelihood of tossing nine heads in a row
Five sigma, on the other hand, would correspond to tossing more than 21 in a row
Unlikely results are more probable when several experiments are carried out at once - equivalent to several people flipping coins at the same time
Why are unlikely results more probable when carried out at once?
I wish sas was here.....
Particle physics has an accepted definition for a "discovery": a five-sigma level of certainty
The number of standard deviations, or sigmas, is a measure of how unlikely it is that an experimental result is simply down to chance, in the absence of a real effect
Similarly, tossing a coin and getting a number of heads in a row may just be chance, rather than a sign of a "loaded" coin
The "three sigma" level represents about the same likelihood of tossing nine heads in a row
Five sigma, on the other hand, would correspond to tossing more than 21 in a row
Unlikely results are more probable when several experiments are carried out at once - equivalent to several people flipping coins at the same time
Why are unlikely results more probable when carried out at once?
I wish sas was here.....
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