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Statistical impossibility (view source)
Revision as of 03:04, September 27, 2016
, 03:04, September 27, 2016Mention some ''real'' impossibilities.
A '''statistical impossibility''' is a probability that is so low as to not be worthy of mentioning. Sometimes it is quoted as 1X10^-50<ref>[http://www.evolutionthelie.com/probability-statistics/life-from-non-life-is-a-statistical-impossibility/ Evolution the lie; statistical impossibility]</ref> although the cutoff is inherently arbitrary. Although not truly impossible the probability is low enough so as to not bear mention in a rational, reasonable argument.
A '''statistical impossibility''' is a probability that is so low as to not be worthy of mentioning. Sometimes it is quoted as 10<sup>-50</sup><ref>[http://www.evolutionthelie.com/probability-statistics/life-from-non-life-is-a-statistical-impossibility/ Evolution the lie; statistical impossibility]</ref> although the cutoff is inherently arbitrary. Although not truly impossible the probability is low enough so as to not bear mention in a rational, reasonable argument.
In some cases that arise in [[Gedanken experiment]]s in [[Second Law of Thermodynamics|thermodynamics]], the probabilities can be approximately 10<sup>[[Avogadro's number]]</sup>, that is, 10<sup>10<sup>23</sup></sup>, give or take a few billion orders of magnitude.
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[[Category:Probability and Statistics]]
[[Category:Probability and Statistics]]