Fermi problem

In physics or engineering education, a Fermi problem, Fermi quiz, Fermi question, Fermi estimate, or order estimation is an estimation theory problem designed to teach dimensional analysis and approximation.

Description

The estimation technique is named after physicist Enrico Fermi as he was known for his ability to make good approximate calculations with little or no actual data.

Fermi problems typically involve making justified guesses about quantities and their variance or lower and upper bounds.

Such a problem is usually a back-of-the-envelope calculation.

See also

• Approximation
• Dead reckoning
• Dimensional analysis
• Handwaving
• Heuristic
• Orders of approximation
• Stein's example

External links

• Fermi problem @ Wikipedia.org