I need help, math nerds! Is probability possible when dealing with infinity?

So I was just wondering this today. Let's say there are indeed an infinite number of universes, and you manage to build a gateway leading to them. However, the gateway cannot go to a specific universe of your choosing, when you turn it on it simply leads to a completely random universe... one out of the infinite amount. My question: is probability even possible in this situation? Let's say you walk through your gateway and end up in universe B, since there's an infinite number of universes wouldn't the probability of you ending up there be one out of infinity? How is that possible?

1/infinity
...short answer: the probability is 0 of landing in a specific universe

Long answer:
since you have not reached that level in mathematics
HERE

1/infinity = 0.000...01 = 0

As: if 0.000...01 = n
10n = 0.000...01
10n - n = 9n
0.000...01 - 0.000...01 = 0

There's a chance that you would end up in Universe B, if you wanted to end up there in the first place. However, if it randomly selects one out of infinite, there is no way to calculate the probability. You need a definite number.

0.000...01markop2003

No, probability deals with the chance that an outcome can occur among a finite number of outcomes. clayron

. I guess there probably is something in statistics that deals with thisEJ902

[QUOTE="markop2003"]0.000...01Gustav_Mahler

[QUOTE="Gustav_Mahler"][QUOTE="markop2003"]0.000...01Same_Jeans_On

In such a situation, there is no meaning to the notion of probability. When you talk about probability, you are talking about the chances that a certain situation or outcome will happen out of many others, but in this case, many is infinity, so no it can't be. Simply the probability of going to universe B in this situation is 1/infinity which equals 0.GazaAli

I must disagree with this. You may be interested in an infinite set of outcomes, which form a proper subset of an infinite set of possibilities. In that case, the probability doesn't necessarily degenerate to zero.

Consider this example: Suppose you pick a point at random on the real number line. Is it more likely to be a rational number or an irrational number? You're dealing with infinite sets when you ask that question, but the notion of probability is still very relevant!

[QUOTE="GazaAli"]In such a situation, there is no meaning to the notion of probability. When you talk about probability, you are talking about the chances that a certain situation or outcome will happen out of many others, but in this case, many is infinity, so no it can't be. Simply the probability of going to universe B in this situation is 1/infinity which equals 0.Stesilaus

I must disagree with this. You may be interested in an infinite set of outcomes, which form a proper subset of an infinite set of possibilities. In that case, the probability doesn't necessarily degenerate to zero.

Consider this example: Suppose you pick a point at random on the real number line. Is it more likely to be a rational number or an irrational number? You're dealing with infinite sets when you ask that question, but the notion of probability is still very relevant!

[QUOTE="Stesilaus"]

[QUOTE="GazaAli"]In such a situation, there is no meaning to the notion of probability. When you talk about probability, you are talking about the chances that a certain situation or outcome will happen out of many others, but in this case, many is infinity, so no it can't be. Simply the probability of going to universe B in this situation is 1/infinity which equals 0.Animatronic64

I must disagree with this. You may be interested in an infinite set of outcomes, which form a proper subset of an infinite set of possibilities. In that case, the probability doesn't necessarily degenerate to zero.

Consider this example: Suppose you pick a point at random on the real number line. Is it more likely to be a rational number or an irrational number? You're dealing with infinite sets when you ask that question, but the notion of probability is still very relevant!

[QUOTE="Animatronic64"]

[QUOTE="Stesilaus"]

I must disagree with this. You may be interested in an infinite set of outcomes, which form a proper subset of an infinite set of possibilities. In that case, the probability doesn't necessarily degenerate to zero.

Consider this example: Suppose you pick a point at random on the real number line. Is it more likely to be a rational number or an irrational number? You're dealing with infinite sets when you ask that question, but the notion of probability is still very relevant!

Same_Jeans_On

[QUOTE="Animatronic64"]

[QUOTE="Stesilaus"]

I must disagree with this. You may be interested in an infinite set of outcomes, which form a proper subset of an infinite set of possibilities. In that case, the probability doesn't necessarily degenerate to zero.

Consider this example: Suppose you pick a point at random on the real number line. Is it more likely to be a rational number or an irrational number? You're dealing with infinite sets when you ask that question, but the notion of probability is still very relevant!

Same_Jeans_On

[QUOTE="Same_Jeans_On"][QUOTE="Animatronic64"]If there are infinite universes and you select one at random, what is the probability it being, say, universe 28?

rawsavon

[QUOTE="rawsavon"][QUOTE="Same_Jeans_On"] 1 in infinity.Same_Jeans_On

[QUOTE="Same_Jeans_On"]

[QUOTE="rawsavon"] which, for all intents and purposes, is 0 or .0000000 (an infinite number of 0's) 1Animatronic64

Mathematically it would be 0.

[QUOTE="rawsavon"][QUOTE="Same_Jeans_On"] 1 in infinity.Same_Jeans_On

Mathematically it would be 0.

Bluestorm-Kalas

[QUOTE="Bluestorm-Kalas"]

Mathematically it would be 0.

rawsavon

[QUOTE="rawsavon"][QUOTE="Bluestorm-Kalas"]

Mathematically it would be 0.

Same_Jeans_On

[QUOTE="Same_Jeans_On"][QUOTE="rawsavon"] Like I said, be my guest to write that out I will say 0rawsavon

So I was just wondering this today. Let's say there are indeed an infinite number of universes, and you manage to build a gateway leading to them. However, the gateway cannot go to a specific universe of your choosing, when you turn it on it simply leads to a completely random universe... one out of the infinite amount. My question: is probability even possible in this situation? Let's say you walk through your gateway and end up in universe B, since there's an infinite number of universes wouldn't the probability of you ending up there be one out of infinity? How is that possible?

yabbicoke

It's hard to say. Of course, the sum of the probabilities must add to 1, but beyond that there are no real there is no real way of saying. For example, it could be that only a finite number of the universes has a probability of being drawn, or it could be that there's a continuous distribution that assigns a pdf. Of course, as with any continuous distribution, the probability of any one universe is zero.

[QUOTE="Same_Jeans_On"][QUOTE="Animatronic64"]If there are infinite universes and you select one at random, what is the probability it being, say, universe 28?

Animatronic64