Infinite-Monkey Theorem n.
"If you put an infinite
number of monkeys at typewriters, eventually one will bash out the
script for Hamlet." (One may also hypothesize a small number of
monkeys and a very long period of time.) This theorem asserts
nothing about the intelligence of the one random monkey that
eventually comes up with the script (and note that the mob will
also type out all the possible incorrect versions of
Hamlet). It may be referred to semi-seriously when justifying a
brute force method; the implication is that, with enough
resources thrown at it, any technical challenge becomes a
one-banana problem. This argument gets more respect since
Linux justified the bazaar mode of development.
This theorem was first popularized by the astronomer Sir Arthur
Eddington. It became part of the idiom of techies via the classic
SF short story "Inflexible Logic" by Russell Maloney, and
many younger hackers know it through a reference in Douglas Adams's
"Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".
"If you put an infinite
number of monkeys at typewriters, eventually one will bash out the
script for Hamlet." (One may also hypothesize a small number of
monkeys and a very long period of time.) This theorem asserts
nothing about the intelligence of the one random monkey that
eventually comes up with the script (and note that the mob will
also type out all the possible incorrect versions of
Hamlet). It may be referred to semi-seriously when justifying a
brute force method; the implication is that, with enough
resources thrown at it, any technical challenge becomes a
one-banana problem. This argument gets more respect since
Linux justified the bazaar mode of development.
This theorem was first popularized by the astronomer Sir Arthur
Eddington. It became part of the idiom of techies via the classic
SF short story "Inflexible Logic" by Russell Maloney, and
many younger hackers know it through a reference in Douglas Adams's
"Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".
Related:
- Infinite-Monkey Theorem: n. "If you put an {infinite} number
of monkeys at typewriters,
eventually one will bash out the script for Hamlet... - brute force adj.
Describes a primitive programming style,
one in which the programmer relies on the computer's... - Ford, there's an infinite number of monkeys out here who wish to talk to us
about this script for Hamlet they've worked up.
Arthur... - one-banana problem: n. At mainframe shops, where the computers
have operators for routine administrivia,
the programmers and hardware people tend to look... - one-banana problem n.
At mainframe shops, where the
computers have operators for routine administrivia,
the programmers and hardware people tend to look... - There is a special department of Hell for students of probability.
In it there are an infinite number of monkeys and typewriters... - consult guide about the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Guide checks through its Sub-Etha-Net database and eventually comes up
with the following entry:
The Hitchhiker's Guide is a wholly remarkable product... - HAKMEM /hak'mem/ n.
MIT AI Memo 239 (February 1972).
A legendary collection of neat mathematical and... - Lemma: All horses are the same color.
Proof (by induction):
Case n = 1: In a set with only one horse, it is obvious...
