2007-02-12 06:30:53 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
Assume as many monkeys as you want, each with a typewriter, and all the paper they need. The only limits are boundaries of the universe.
Will one eventually type out Hamlet? What are the odds?
2007-02-12 10:45:51 · update #1
If one is taking this problem literally, there would not be enough mass in the universe to make enough monkeys to have any prayer of typing out even a small part of one of the Bard's plays.
2007-02-13 00:32:41 · update #2
The infinite monkey theorem states that a monkey hitting keys at random on a typewriter keyboard for an infinite amount of time will almost surely type or create a particular chosen text, such as the complete works of William Shakespeare. Note that "almost surely" in this context is a mathematical term with a specific meaning, and that the "monkey" is not an actual monkey; rather, it is a vivid metaphor for an abstract device that produces a random sequence of letters ad infinitum.
2007-02-12 06:35:19 · answer #1 · answered by ladrona 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Where did the monkeys come from? What about the typewriters? Who keeps them supplied with paper?
2007-02-12 08:59:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not Shakespeare, but The new york times.
2007-02-12 07:37:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
That is an old canard. They will eventually type out an A.R. Gurney play.
2007-02-12 06:38:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Law of averages says yes, but you can get a whole season of shows for the Fox Network
2007-02-12 06:37:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
technically yes, but it will take millions of years. but yes, eventually the combination of letters and words will come out to match one of his plays perfectly.
2007-02-12 07:25:10 · answer #6 · answered by Effraye 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
One came close...but he left out an "l" in the title: Othelo.
2007-02-12 06:36:20 · answer #7 · answered by Michael E 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
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Gee, I don't think so.
2007-02-12 06:34:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
yes but it may be encrypted
2007-02-12 06:36:32 · answer #9 · answered by sammy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I seriously doubt that.
2007-02-12 06:34:15 · answer #10 · answered by true blue 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋