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Australian Mathematicians Debunk 'Infinite Monkey Theorem' on Shakespeare

Nov 1, 2024, 02:05 AM

A recent study by two Australian mathematicians has debunked the 'infinite monkey theorem,' which posits that given enough time, a monkey randomly pressing keys on a typewriter would eventually type the complete works of William Shakespeare. The mathematicians from the University of Sydney found that even if all the chimpanzees in the world were given the entire lifespan of the universe, they would 'almost certainly' never produce Shakespeare's works. This research, reported by AFP on October 31, provides a numerical evaluation of the 'Finite Monkeys Theorem,' challenging the long-held belief in the eventual certainty of such an outcome.