Let S be a square of side length 1. Two points are chosen independently at random on the sides of S. The probability that the straight-line distance between the points is at least 21 is ca−bπ, where a, b, and c are positive integers and gcd(a,b,c)=1. What is a+b+c?
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Official solution
1. Let the square be ABCD with side length 1. Suppose the two points chosen are P and Q. Without loss of generality, let P lie on AB with P closer to A than B. Denote the length AP=x.
2. To find the probability that the straight-line distance between P and Q is at least 21, we need to consider the regions on the perimeter of the square where Q can lie such that the distance PQ≥21.
3. The length of the portion of AB that is within 21 units of P is 21+x. By the Pythagorean Theorem, the length of the portion of AD that is within 21 units of P is: (21)2−x2=211−4x2.
4. Therefore, the total perimeter of the square that is not within 21 units of P is: 4−(21+x+211−4x2).
5. The probability that Q lies outside of 21 units of P is: 44−(21+x+211−4x2)=87−4x−811−4x2.
6. We want the average probability that Q lies outside of 21 units of P. This is the average value of the function f(x)=87−4x−811−4x2 as P ranges from A to the midpoint of AB (i.e., x ranges from 0 to 21).
7. The average value of f is given by: (21)1∫021f(x)dx=2∫021(87−4x−811−4x2)dx.
8. The left integral simplifies to: 2[87x−8x2]021=2(167−321)=1613.
9. For the right integral, we make the substitution t=2x so that dx=2dt: 41∫0211−4x2dx=41∫011−t2(2dt)=81∫011−t2dt.
10. The integral ∫011−t2dt represents the area of a quarter circle of radius 1, which is 4π. Therefore: 81(4π)=32π.
11. Therefore, our desired probability is: 1613−32π=3226−π.
12. The final answer is a+b+c=26+1+32=59.
The final answer is 59.
Source: NuminaMath-1.5,
licensed Apache-2.0.
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