PROBABILITY of an Event, in the Doctrine of Chances, is greater or less according to the number of chances by which it may happen or fail. (See EXPECTATION). The probability of life is liable to rules of computation. In the Encyclopedie Methodique, we find a table of the probabilities of the duration of life, constructed from that which is to be found in the seventh volume of the Suppléments à l'Histoire de M. de Buffon; of which the following is an abridgement.

Of 23994 children born at the same time there will probably die

\frac{1}{2} In one - 7998
\frac{2}{3} Remaining \frac{1}{2} or 15996 -
\frac{1}{3} In eight years - 11997
\frac{2}{3} Remaining \frac{1}{3} or 11997 -
\frac{1}{4} In thirty-eight years - 15996
\frac{3}{4} Remaining \frac{1}{4} or 7998 -
\frac{1}{5} In fifty years - 17994
\frac{4}{5} Remaining \frac{1}{5} or 5998 -
\frac{1}{6} In sixty-one years - 19995
\frac{5}{6} Remaining \frac{1}{6} or 3999 -
\frac{1}{7} In seventy years - 21595
\frac{6}{7} Remaining \frac{1}{7} or 2399 -
\frac{1}{8} In eighty years - 22395
\frac{7}{8} Remaining \frac{1}{8} or 599 -
\frac{1}{9} In ninety years - 23914
\frac{8}{9} Remaining \frac{1}{9} or 80 -
\frac{1}{10} In a hundred years - 23992
Remaining \frac{9}{10} or 2. See Bills of Mortality.

LITY.