Ben Chambers <ben### [at] pacificwebguycom> wrote:
> Stephen wrote:
> > Jellby <me### [at] privacynet> wrote:
> >> I believe it was just "a room full of chimps" or something similar.
>
> Whether it's a room full of chimps typing long enough, or an infinite
> number of chimps is irrelevant.  The important part is infinity, either
> of time or of chimps.
>

>
> Well, they DO take it seriously, as a maxim of probability.
>
> > wrong. If things are truly random there is no guarantee that you ever will
> > get what you want.
>
> That's why the infinite part is important - either there are an infinite
> number of chimps, or an infinite timeframe, but either way that infinity
> throws normal probability out the window.
>
> No matter how probable something is, as long as it is possible, throwing
> in an infinity makes it a certainty.  That is, as long as P>0, then an
> infinite number of chances will result in P=1.
>
> ...Chambers

Yes Infinity is important here. When you talk about infinity common sense
flies out the window :-)
Excuse me while I move my belongings to the next even numbered room, another
bus has arrived at Hilbert's Grand Hotel.


Stephen

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