5 ms·
I remember reading once that every time you shuffle a deck of cards, it's almost certainly the first time any deck of cards has ever been in that configuration.
by nnf 2y ago
I remember reading once that every time you shuffle a deck of cards, it's almost certainly the first time any deck of cards has ever been in that configuration. Seeing how outrageously large 52! is puts this into perspective.
- SideQuark 2y agoMost likely not true, since many shuffles are from a sorted deck (original buy, result of playing out some game, etc...). The 52! possibilities are certainly not uniformly spread in real life. With enough shuffles then you'll likely hit never before seen territory.
- thfuran 2y agoAnd once you get there, it is likely that further shuffles will stay there.
- SideQuark 2y agoAgreed. Except I suspect most shuffles are people playing cards, and many (most?) games put a lot of order back into the deck, again returning to well trodden decks.
- 7373737373 2y agoThis is a good Numberphile video about it - The Best (and Worst) Ways to Shuffle Cards: https://youtube.com/watch?v=AxJubaijQbI https://youtube.com/watch?v=AxJubaijQbI