Monkeys will never type Shakespeare, study finds

H

Hume

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Two Australian mathematicians have called into question an old adage, that if given an infinite amount of time, a monkey pressing keys on a typewriter would eventually write the complete works of William Shakespeare.

Known as the "infinite monkey theorem", the thought-experiment has long been used to explain the principles of probability and randomness.

However, a new peer-reviewed study led by Sydney-based researchers Stephen Woodcock and Jay Falletta has found that the time it would take for a typing monkey to replicate Shakespeare's plays, sonnets and poems would be longer than the lifespan of our universe.

www.bbc.com

'Infinite monkey theorem' challenged by Australian mathematicians

Australian researchers have poked holes in an old thought-experiment known as the "infinite monkey theorem".
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
The time in the universe may not be all the time there is. These people make assumptions they should not, IMHO, that invalidates their conclusion. Monkeys will write Shakespeare.... In fact one already did. Well a Great Ape did.
 
Hume said:
Two Australian mathematicians have called into question an old adage, that if given an infinite amount of time, a monkey pressing keys on a typewriter would eventually write the complete works of William Shakespeare.

Known as the "infinite monkey theorem", the thought-experiment has long been used to explain the principles of probability and randomness.

However, a new peer-reviewed study led by Sydney-based researchers Stephen Woodcock and Jay Falletta has found that the time it would take for a typing monkey to replicate Shakespeare's plays, sonnets and poems would be longer than the lifespan of our universe.
Click to expand...
Did you catch the pivot there? The thought experiment involves infinite time, and you pulled a bait and switch, limiting the time.

Unlimited vs. limited. You can't do that.
 
Hume said:
Two Australian mathematicians have called into question an old adage, that if given an infinite amount of time, a monkey pressing keys on a typewriter would eventually write the complete works of William Shakespeare.

Known as the "infinite monkey theorem", the thought-experiment has long been used to explain the principles of probability and randomness.

However, a new peer-reviewed study led by Sydney-based researchers Stephen Woodcock and Jay Falletta has found that the time it would take for a typing monkey to replicate Shakespeare's plays, sonnets and poems would be longer than the lifespan of our universe.

www.bbc.com

'Infinite monkey theorem' challenged by Australian mathematicians

Australian researchers have poked holes in an old thought-experiment known as the "infinite monkey theorem".
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
Click to expand...
That depends on how many monkeys and typewriters you have...
 
IBDaMann said:
Did you catch the pivot there? The thought experiment involves infinite time, and you pulled a bait and switch, limiting the time.

Unlimited vs. limited. You can't do that.
Click to expand...
It doesn't require infinite time if you have say, a Googleplex of monkeys all pounding on typewriters...

1624035887823
 
T. A. Gardner said:
It doesn't require infinite time if you have say, a Googleplex of monkeys all pounding on typewriters...

1624035887823
Click to expand...
The thought experiment involved only one monkey, and the monkey wasn't even a monkey but a true random value generator. One Googleplex of true random value generators each cranking out five values per second probably won't create the works of Shakespeare before the universe dies a heat death.
 
Hume said:
Two Australian mathematicians have called into question an old adage, that if given an infinite amount of time, a monkey pressing keys on a typewriter would eventually write the complete works of William Shakespeare.

Known as the "infinite monkey theorem", the thought-experiment has long been used to explain the principles of probability and randomness.

However, a new peer-reviewed study led by Sydney-based researchers Stephen Woodcock and Jay Falletta has found that the time it would take for a typing monkey to replicate Shakespeare's plays, sonnets and poems would be longer than the lifespan of our universe.

www.bbc.com

'Infinite monkey theorem' challenged by Australian mathematicians

Australian researchers have poked holes in an old thought-experiment known as the "infinite monkey theorem".
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
Click to expand...
Only idiots ever thought it was possible
 
Hume said:
yet you have been stalking me for years
Click to expand...
Can't stalk someone in a public forum dumbass. It's not my fault EVERYTHING you post is moronic. Morons like you need to be ridiculed and I will ridicules you EVERY chance I get..thats your future
 
How many monkeys typing for how long would be needed to recreate the kind of back and forth we are seeing in this part of the thread? I'm guessing 2 typing for 2 hours.
 
Hume said:
Two Australian mathematicians have called into question an old adage, that if given an infinite amount of time, a monkey pressing keys on a typewriter would eventually write the complete works of William Shakespeare.

Known as the "infinite monkey theorem", the thought-experiment has long been used to explain the principles of probability and randomness.

However, a new peer-reviewed study led by Sydney-based researchers Stephen Woodcock and Jay Falletta has found that the time it would take for a typing monkey to replicate Shakespeare's plays, sonnets and poems would be longer than the lifespan of our universe.

www.bbc.com

'Infinite monkey theorem' challenged by Australian mathematicians

Australian researchers have poked holes in an old thought-experiment known as the "infinite monkey theorem".
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
Click to expand...
It's a thought experiment, not something that could actually be done. The fact two mathematicians worked out the math on it is interesting, but, again, the idea is a thought experiment about odds.
 
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