Don't Be a Square (Posted on 2003-05-19)

	Submitted by DJ
Rating: 4.4667 (15 votes)
Solution:	(Hide)
For n points choose any given point and evaluate the probability that the other n-1 lie within a semicircle going clockwise. This probability is (1/2)^(n-1). Given that there are n points to start with the overall probability is n/2^(n-1). This may seem like an abuse of taking the sum of probabilities, but in this situation there are only two cases (only zero or one of the events may be true), which eliminates the problem of joint probabilities.

	Subject	Author	Date
	The Solution & Generalization	Charlie	2003-05-24 06:01:53
	Web Research	Charlie	2003-05-23 03:51:22
	re(5): Simulation	DJ	2003-05-22 11:57:25
	re(4): Simulation	Charlie	2003-05-22 05:25:35
	re(3): Simulation	DJ	2003-05-21 19:23:55
	re(2): Simulation	Charlie	2003-05-21 03:40:30
	re: Simulation	Charlie	2003-05-20 10:07:34
	Simulation	Charlie	2003-05-20 10:03:08
	re(3): Solution	Bryan	2003-05-20 06:26:38
	re: Am I correct in saying this	Charlie	2003-05-20 04:53:19
	Am I correct in saying this	sendil	2003-05-20 01:06:32
	re: Numerical Answers	Charlie	2003-05-19 17:59:22
	re(2): Solution	Charlie	2003-05-19 16:15:15
	re: My idea as well	Charlie	2003-05-19 15:44:21
	re(3): Numerical Answers	Charlie	2003-05-19 15:40:22
	re: Solution	Bryan	2003-05-19 12:52:22
	My idea as well	Gamer	2003-05-19 12:10:27
	Solution	Bryan	2003-05-19 10:14:41
	re(2): Numerical Answers	Gamer	2003-05-19 10:11:34
	re: Numerical Answers	Charlie	2003-05-19 09:43:33
	Numerical Answers	Charlie	2003-05-19 09:40:39