Lanchester Laws

F.W. Lanchester was an English inventor and engineer in the late 19th/early 20th century who developed theories of aerodynamics, aircraft design, and outcomes of military engagements. He formulated two "Laws" - the Law of Single Combat and the Law of Stochastic Combat. The Law of Single Combat states that in individual engagements, the larger force will defeat the smaller force and have survivors equal to the difference in force sizes. The Law of Stochastic Combat states that in engagements where multiple combatants can engage, the larger force will defeat the smaller at a geometric rate. These laws can help analyze sales campaigns and determine whether to employ a strategy of concentration (for