# Is Kolmogorov-random nonsensical for small numbers?

The Wikipedia definition of Kolmogorov-random defines a string (usually of bits) as being random if and only if it is shorter than any computer program that can produce that string.

Aren't nearly1 all strings shorter than a certain length2 going to be Kolmogorov-random?

1. If a random Turing machine is chosen, then programs that output short strings will almost always be longer than the strings. If the programming language used for measurement is optimized for outputting a short string, then only the complexity of a subset of short strings can be made lower than their length. For example, if a Turing complete language defines $0$ as an operation that outputs 0 and halts, the program for outputting 1 and halting is forced to be longer than the length of its output.

2. The exact length below which this occurs will depend on the programming language chosen. The length is 41 bits using 5 state, 2 symbol Turing machines.

• Depends on what you mean by "nonsensical". – Ray May 12 '17 at 7:52
• I mean that, while the definition is self-consistent, the small numbers that are Kolmogorov-random don't resemble any other reasonable definition of random. – LeBleu May 12 '17 at 16:45
• Ah, but what is a "reasonable definition" of randomnes? There are many definitions, but kolmogorov randomness, to me, is the most useful. What do the other definitions say about the randomness of small numbers? – Ray May 13 '17 at 15:59
• Something like "no betting strategy can make money betting on a random sequence". A sequence of all 0 is easy to bet on, yet sequences shorter than ~33 bits are all Kolmgorov-random. – LeBleu May 17 '17 at 17:46
• Without even using alternative definitions of randomness, it seems problematic that all short substrings of non-Kolmogorov-random strings are Kolmogorov-random. – LeBleu May 17 '17 at 17:54