 Edwin Bidwell Wilson

Edwin Bidwell Wilson was a mathematician and statistician, remembered in statistics for the Wilson score interval. His 1931 paper with Margaret M. Hilferty introduced an influential approximation to the chi-squared distribution. His firsthand National Academy of Sciences memoir lists the paper under his full name.^[ref]

Their Wilson-Hilferty transformation uses $(X/k{)}^{1/3}$ for a chi-squared distribution with $k$ statistical degrees of freedom. Its approximate mean $1-2/(9k)$ and variance $2/(9k)$ give a normal approximation useful for converting quantiles between the two distributions.^[ref]

Edwin Bidwell Wilson (1879–1964) was a notable American mathematician and educator, recognized primarily for his contributions to mathematics and the development of higher education in the United States. He served as a professor of mathematics at several institutions, including the University of Illinois and the University of Washington. Wilson is particularly known for his work in functional analysis and contributions to mathematical pedagogy. He was also involved in the administration and development of mathematics education, advocating for improved teaching methods and curricula.