The probability of a random number generator to create a book

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Renatk2012-10-17 15:08:40

Mathematics

Renatk, 2012-10-17 15:08:40

Hello. I wonder what is the probability that the random number generator (randomize, /dev/urandom) will give us a text that is completely identical to the contents of all volumes of L.N. Tolstoy "War and Peace"

Is it 2^(the number of letters in the novel) or much more?

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5 answer(s)

A

antonevich, 2012-10-17
@antonevich

This is the number of characters of the alphabet and punctuation to the power of the number of letters in the novel. In the process of such a selection, you will receive a multi-volume book with the continuation of War and Peace and an alternative version where Andrei Bolkonsky is killed by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a pleasant bonus.

T

TheHorse, 2012-10-17
@TheHorse

It is necessary that each byte matches the corresponding letter. The probability of one match is 1/255. The probability of matching the entire text is (1/255)^n, where n is the number of characters. This is for ASCII.

M

Mikhail Lyalin, 2012-10-17
@mr_jok

Several million "virtual monkeys" slapping keyboards at random are close to recreating the complete works of Shakespeare

K

kafeman, 2012-10-17
@kafeman

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_monkey_theorem

G

gaelpa, 2012-10-17
@gaelpa

Send here: what-if.xkcd.com/ , if you're lucky, there will be an answer with pictures.