The ballot problem

AbstractA simplified proof is given for a result of Klamkin and Rhemtulla on the two-office ballot problem

Density of states determined from Monte Carlo simulations

We describe method for calculating the density of states by combining several canonical monte carlo runs. We discuss how critical properties reveal themselves in $g(\epsilon)$ and demonstrate this by applying the method several different phase transitions. We also demonstrate how this can used to calculate the conformal charge, where the dominating numerical method has traditionally been transfer matrix.Comment: Major revision of paper, several references added throughout. Current version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.