The Melnick conjecture, named after former University of Georgia math professor Dr. Gavin Melnick, states that, from simple observation, every event that could occur has a 50% chance to do so, as it either happens or it does not. The conjecture considers this 50/50 probability to be independent of all other calculated statistical probabilities, and thus the 50/50 chance is considered an example of a transcendental probability within statistics.
Most people say the probability of getting a unique shuffle of cards from a standard deck is one in 52 factorial, but according to the Melnick Conjecture it is actually a 50/50 chance. You either get it or you don’t.
by boydgrad March 3, 2024
Get the Melnick Conjecturemug.