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Geometric Probabilistic Problem - Ref PDF
Geometric Probabilistic Problem - Ref PDF
Geometric Probabilistic Problem - Ref PDF
A Geometric-Probabilistic problem
about the lengths of the segments
intersected in straights that randomly cut a triangle.
Abstract. If a line cuts randomly two sides of a triangle, the length of the segment determined
by the points of intersection is also random. The object of this study, applied to a particular case,
is to calculate the probability that the length of such segment is greater than a certain value.
̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝑄 > ̅̅̅̅ 𝑃𝑅 > ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐶 or ̅̅̅̅ 𝐴𝐶
(1)
x
Let us draw an arc of radius ̅̅̅̅𝐴𝐶 with center P. Let P and Q be the intersection points of this
̅̅̅̅ y 𝐶𝐵
arc with the sides 𝐴𝐵 ̅̅̅̅, respectively, as shown in the following picture, with the triangle
represented in an orthonormal coordinate system, with origin at O, x-axis (abscissas) in the
direction OA and y-axis (ordinates) in the direction OB.
B
Q
R
0
0
x
C O P A
1
A Geometric-Probabilistic problem about the lengths of the segments intersected in straights that randomly cut a triangle.
Since x and are continuous random variables uniformly distributed, for a differential of
̅̅̅̅ , the probability that the condition (1) is satisfied will be
length dx in 𝐴𝐶
𝛼
𝑑𝑝 = 𝑑𝑥 (2)
𝜋
and therefore, the probability that the inequalities (1) are satisfied for a randomly chosen
point in ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐶 will be
1
1 2
𝑝 = ∫ 𝛼(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 (3)
𝜋 −1
2
:
where 𝛼(𝑥) is the function relating the angle with the abscissa x.
In (3):
The required probability p is obtained by Riemann integration of the probability
density function 𝛼(𝑥) in the symmetric interval ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐶 = [−12, 12 ].
̂ − 𝐶𝑃𝑅
𝛼 = 𝜋 − 𝑄𝑃𝐴 ̂ (4)
:
But,
̂ = 𝜋 − 𝐴̂ − 𝑄̂
QPA : 𝑄𝑃𝐴 (5)
̂ = 𝜋 − 𝐶̂ − 𝑅
CPR : 𝐶𝑃𝑅 (6)
So,
𝛼 = 𝑄̂ + 𝑅̂ + 𝐴̂ + 𝐶̂ − 𝜋 (7)
But 𝐶̂ = 𝐴̂ and 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝐴̂ = 2. Moreover, without loss of generality, we can assume that
̅̅̅̅ = 𝑂𝐵
𝐴𝐶 ̅̅̅̅̅ = 1 (10)
Hence,
2
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐴̂ = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐶
:
̂= (11)
√5
+ 0.2
+X
- 0.5 0 + 0.5
1 1
1 2 1 − 2𝑥 2 1 + 2𝑥 2
𝑝 = [∫ 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( ) 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( ) 𝑑𝑥 ] + 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛(2) − 1 (13)
𝜋 −1 √5 −1 √5 𝜋
2 2
:
These integrals (in indefinite form) can be solved by integration by parts. Let
1 − 2𝑥
𝐼1 = ∫ 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( ) 𝑑𝑥 (14)
√5
:
1 + 2𝑥
𝐼2 = ∫ 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( ) 𝑑𝑥 (15)
√5
: 2
−
1−2𝑥 √5
𝑢 = 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( ) 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑑𝑥
𝐼1 = 𝑢𝑑𝑣 { √5 }⇒{ √1−(1−2𝑥)
2 }
𝑑𝑣 = 𝑑𝑥 √5
𝑣=𝑥
3
A Geometric-Probabilistic problem about the lengths of the segments intersected in straights that randomly cut a triangle.
2
− 𝑥
1−2𝑥 √5
𝐼1 = 𝑢𝑣 − ∫ 𝑣𝑑𝑢 = 𝑥 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( )−∫ 2
𝑑𝑥 (16)
√5
√1−(1−2𝑥)
√5
Let
2
− 𝑥
𝐼3 = ∫ √5
2
𝑑𝑥 (17)
√1−(1−2𝑥)
√5
𝑑𝑥
𝐼3 = √−𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1 − ∫ (18)
2√−𝑥 2 +𝑥+1
Let
𝑑𝑥
𝐼4 = ∫ (19)
2√−𝑥 2 +𝑥+1
1 −2
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 1 𝑑𝑥
√5 √5
𝐼4 = ∫ =∫ =∫ =− ∫
√−4𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4 √5 − (1 − 2𝑥)2 2 2 2
√1 − (1−2𝑥) √1 − (1−2𝑥)
√5 √5
1 1−2𝑥
𝐼4 = − 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( ) (20)
2 √5
From (18) and (19), 𝐼3 = √−𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1 − 𝐼4 ; substituting in this the result given by (20),
1 1−2𝑥
𝐼3 = √−𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1 + 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( ) (21)
2 √5
1−2𝑥
From (16), 𝐼1 = 𝑥 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( ) − 𝐼3 , and substituting therein the result given by (21),
√5
1 1 1−2𝑥
𝐼1 = (𝑥 − 2) 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( ) − √−𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1 (22)
√5
1 1+2𝑥
𝐼2 = (𝑥 + 2) 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( ) + √−𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 1 (23)
√5
4
A Geometric-Probabilistic problem about the lengths of the segments intersected in straights that randomly cut a triangle.
Substituting in (13) this results, we obtain the exact value of the requested probability:
1
1 2 2 1 1 𝜋 2
𝑝= [𝐼 + 𝐼2 ] + 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛(2) − 1 = [2𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛 ( ) + + 1 − √5] + 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛(2) − 1
𝜋 1 1 𝜋 𝜋 3 2 𝜋
−
2
2 1 √5 − 1 1
𝑝= [𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛 ( ) + 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛(2)] − − (24)
𝜋 3 𝜋 2
The expression (24) can be simplified considering the definition of the golden ratio [1] and
the following identity regarding tangent arcs (by the general shape established in [2] for the
decomposition of pi / 4 in two arctan):
1 𝜋
𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛(2) = 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛 ( ) + (25)
3 4
This identity can be proven easily by the formula of the tangent of a sum or through algebra
of complex numbers, expressing the product of two complex numbers (suitably chosen) in
two representation forms, binary form and polar form, as shown below.
After performed the product in polar form, the identity (25) is derived by identifying the
arguments on both sides of the last equality:
Finally, the result (24) can be expressed in the following elegant form that involves two of
the most remarkable numbers: the number Pi and the Golden Ratio ,
1 5
(27)
2
As the number , it is surprising the ubiquity of this number, that emerge in the most diverse
sceneries [1].
2 1 1
p 2arctan (28)
3
5
A Geometric-Probabilistic problem about the lengths of the segments intersected in straights that randomly cut a triangle.
References.
[1] Livio, Mario (2002). The Golden Ratio: The Story of Phi, The World's Most Astonishing Number.
New York: Broadway Books. ISBN 0-7679-0815-5.
[2] Tanton, James (2012). Mathematics Galore!. The First Five Years of the St. Mark’s Institute of
Mathematics. The Mathematical Association of America. Washington. ISBN 978-0-88385-776-2.