I choose you!

I randomly choose 3 different points among 2010 points evenly spaced on the circumference of the circle. The probability that the 3 points I choose form the vertices of a right triangle can be written as A B . \frac{A}{B}.

If A A and B B are co-prime positive integers, find A + B . A+B.


The answer is 2012.

This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and, finally, (c) loading the non-javascript version of this page . We're sorry about the hassle.

2 solutions

Gabe Smith
Nov 16, 2015

Using what @Eli Ross suggested, we can note that the hypotenuse of the triangle must be formed by two points which are opposite each other (endpoints of a diameter).

There are 2010 2 = 1005 \frac{2010}{2} = 1005 diameters, and 2010 2 = 2008 2010- 2= 2008 potential right-angle vertices given a diameter (hypotenuse).

Thus, the probability is 1005 2008 ( 2010 3 ) = 6 1005 2008 2010 2009 2008 = 3 2009 , \frac{1005 \cdot 2008}{\binom{2010}{3}} = \frac{6\cdot 1005 \cdot 2008}{2010 \cdot 2009 \cdot 2008} = \frac{3}{2009}, so A + B = 3 + 2009 = 2012. A+B = 3 + 2009 = 2012.

Exactly Same Way, Nice Question.

Kushagra Sahni - 5 years, 6 months ago
Eli Ross Staff
Nov 16, 2015

This is a great problem @Daniel Awakens and welcome back to Brilliant! We haven't seen you in awhile and we're glad you're back. Thanks for sharing this one.

I'll let someone else post a solution, but if you need a hint, remember that inscribed angles have angle measure equal to half of the arc. So, for a right triangle, we need a 18 0 180^\circ arc.

If that's unfamiliar, you can learn more with this practice quiz .

0 pending reports

×

Problem Loading...

Note Loading...

Set Loading...