Coincidences Are not Accidental: a Theorem

In this paper, we formalize and prove the statement that coincidences cannot be accidental, a statement that underlies many useful heuristics in mathematics and physics. Our proof uses a version of Kolmogorov complexity, a technique originally developed to describe randomness and "accidentalness". 1 Coincidences are not Accidental: A Useful Empirical Fact Coincidences happen. In mathematics and physics, discoveries often start when someone notices a strange coincidence. For example:

• Type: Journal
• Year: 1999
• Where: CAS
• Authors: Vladik Kreinovich
• Keywords: CAS 1999, Coincidence, Empirical Fact Coincidences, Useful Heuristics