Fermi Problem
Category
Mathematics
Also Known As...
Back-of-the-Envelope Calculation Ballpark GuesstimationSimilar
Drake Equation Fermi ParadoxDefinition
A rough calculation to arrive at a reasonable estimate — unknowns and all — where the result could be considered logically approximate.Origin
Named for physicist Enrico Fermi's ability to make good approximate calculations with little or no actual data.