---
title: "Discussion on \"I tested Bertrand's 1887 ballot formula on 648 vote splits and the answer was always (p-q)/(p+q).\" | Hashnode"
description: "Discussion on \"I tested Bertrand's 1887 ballot formula on 648 vote splits and the answer was always (p-q)/(p+q).\". In 1887 Joseph Bertrand sent a four-page note to the *Comptes Rendus* of the French Academy. The question he asked is one you can pose to a child. Two candidates run for office. A wins with p votes, B loses with q < p. The ballots are pulled from the"
url: "https://hashnode.com/posts/i-tested-bertrands-1887-ballot-formula-on-648-vote-splits-and-the-answer-was-always-p-qpq/6a025d702d1b69abf22b821f"
---

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# [I tested Bertrand's 1887 ballot formula on 648 vote splits and the answer was always (p-q)/(p+q).](https://forgottentheorieshashnodedev.hashnode.dev/i-tested-bertrands-1887-ballot-formula-on-648-vote-splits-and-the-answer-was-always-p-qpq?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed)

In 1887 Joseph Bertrand sent a four-page note to the \*Comptes Rendus\* of the French Academy. The question he asked is one you can pose to a child. Two candidates run for office. A wins with p votes, B loses with q < p. The ballots are pulled from the

May 11 · 6 min read · forgottentheorieshashnodedev.hashnode.dev  
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