Bayes' theorem

Bayes' theorem

[¦bāz ′thir·əm]

(mathematics)

A theorem stating that the probability of a hypothesis, given the original data and some new data, is proportional to the probability of the hypothesis, given the original data only, and the probability of the new data, given the original data and the hypothesis. Also known as inverse probability principle.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.