---
tags:
  - status/draft
  - topic/math
  - topic/risk
  - type/encyclopedia-entry
title: Monte Carlo Methods
---
# Monte Carlo Methods

> [!quote] [Monte Carlo methods](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Carlo_method)
> Monte Carlo methods or Monte Carlo experiments,
> are a broad class of computational algorithms
> that rely on repeated random sampling to obtain numerical results.
> The underlying concept is to use randomness to solve problems
> that might be deterministic in principle.

Popular examples of Monte Carlo methods include
estimating the area of an irregular shape
by randomly sampling points in a known area,
and estimating the value of pi
by tossing toothpicks onto a ruled surface.

[Professor Art Owen](https://artowen.su.domains/)
at Stanford University
has several excellent resources on the subject.
