The infinite monkey theorem states that an infinite number of monkeys equipped with typewriters will eventually produce the complete works of Shakespeare by randomly banging on the keys.

This is a classic exercise in probability, first presented by Émile Borel in 1909. In Borel’s original the object was to type the complete contents of the French National Library, the substitution of Shakespeare is an obvious anglification. Nutters.org has a popular discussion of the theorem entitled The Mathematics of Monkeys and Shakespeare (by Brett Watson), while Ask Dr. Math presents a drier scientific version (by Dr. Benway). For further reference, see Wikipedia: Infinite monkey theorem.

Nick Hoggard’s Monkey Shakespeare Simulator is taking a serious shot at the problem, with a record of 26 consecutive letters from a Shakespeare play produced so far.