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Information density phenomena and random packing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 July 2016

James L. Dolby  and
Herbert Solomon
James L. Dolby
Affiliation:
San Jose State University
Herbert Solomon
Affiliation:
Stanford University
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Abstract

A density model for various phenomena with densities much smaller than those explored by the Zipf model is developed. The density of spherical random packing in n dimensions serves as a model for relative frequency of length of monosyllabic words in English and also for the relative frequency of degree holders in the U.S. at various levels of educational attainment.

Keywords

INFORMATION DENSITYSPHERICAL RANDOM PACKINGMONOSYLLABIC WORDS
Type
Short Communications
Information
Journal of Applied Probability , Volume 12 , Issue 2 , June 1975 , pp. 364 - 370
Copyright
Copyright © Applied Probability Trust 1975 

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References

[1] Blaisdell, B. E. and Solomon, H. (1970) On random sequential packing in the plane and a conjecture of Palasti. J. Appl. Prob. 7, 667–698.Google Scholar
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[4] Jespersen, O. (1928) Monosyllabism in English. Proceedings of the British Academy 14, 341–368.Google Scholar
[5] Palasti, I. (1960) On some random space filling problems. Publ. Math. Inst. Hung. Acad. Sci. 5, 353–359.Google Scholar
[6] Zeihen, M. F. (1970) A discussion of certain mathematical regularities in the structure of the English language. M. S. Mathematics Department, San Jose State College.Google Scholar
[7] Zipf, G. K. (1965) Human Behavior and the Principle of Least Effort. Hafner Publishing Company, New York.Google Scholar