Given infinite time, is it possible to randomly draw a rational (instead of an irrational) from the interval [0, 1]? And if so, is it possible infinite times?

▲

hhjinks 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Your answer to that will depend on whether you think that is part of "all things possible."

▲

rablackburn 8 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Finally, a well-formed question to which the answer "42 (times)" is a possible solution.

▲

LPisGood 8 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Certainly! Probability 0 does not mean impossible.

▲

voxl 8 hours ago | parent [-]

In this case it does. Describe any effective measure to pick a random sample from the interval and you will have cheated into choosing from the computable reals instead (of which there is a countable amount)

	▲	fc417fc802 7 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		I don't think that's correct. You're describing a limitation of our physical computing devices (or perhaps physical reality itself) as opposed to a theoretical flaw. At least as far as I can tell.
	▲	LPisGood 6 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Measure 0 is different than empty.

▲

adrianN 8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

"Randomly" drawing anything from [0,1] is already quite difficult.

	▲	taneq 7 hours ago \| parent [-]
		You could draw a line, or a Cantor dust. ;)