Infinite Monkey Theorem


Infinite Monkey Theorem

(humour)"If you put an infinite number of monkeys attypewriters, eventually one will bash out the script forHamlet." (One may also hypothesise a small number of monkeysand a very long period of time.) This theorem asserts nothingabout the intelligence of the one random monkey thateventually comes up with the script (and note that the mobwill also type out all the possible *incorrect* versions ofHamlet). It may be referred to semi-seriously when justifyinga brute force method; the implication is that, with enoughresources thrown at it, any technical challenge becomes aone-banana problem.

This theorem was first popularised by the astronomer SirArthur Eddington. It became part of the idiom through theclassic short story "Inflexible Logic" by Russell Maloney, andmany younger hackers know it through a reference in DouglasAdams's "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".

See also: RFC 2795.