THE PHONE BOOTH

As of the 23rd May 2022 this website is archived and will receive no further updates.

understandinguncertainty.org was produced by the Winton programme for the public understanding of risk based in the Statistical Laboratory in the University of Cambridge. The aim was to help improve the way that uncertainty and risk are discussed in society, and show how probability and statistics can be both useful and entertaining.

Many of the animations were produced using Flash and will no longer work.

Colleague Joe F. explained coincidences: lots of things happen. I agree, but coincidences fascinate. Joe himself was driving in suburban Chicago on the way to visit an old acquaintance, when he realized that he had lost the address and telephone number. Eventually he spotted a phone booth, and stopped to see if it had a telephone directory. There was no directory, but he was astounded to find a note addressed to him with the needed number! It devolved that the friend had tried to call Joe's hotel, to confirm the visit, and thought he was speaking to a hotel clerk, but had misdialed to that phone booth, and a passer-by had answered the phone and taken the message.
Total votes: 319
Date submitted:Mon, 26 Nov 2018 21:48:34 +0000Coincidence ID:10141