I expect

Let k k be a random positive integer in [ 1 , N ] . [1,N]. Let E N E_N be the expected value of the number of positive integer solutions to x 2 + y 2 = k . x^2+y^2=k. What is lim n E N \lim\limits_{n\to\infty} E_N ?


The answer is 0.785.

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1 solution

Patrick Corn
Sep 7, 2018

There's no such thing as a "random positive integer," but what you probably mean is: "let k k be a random positive integer in [ 1 , N ] . [1,N]. Let E N E_N be the expected value of the number of positive integer solutions to x 2 + y 2 = k . x^2+y^2=k. What is lim n E N \lim\limits_{n\to\infty} E_N ?"

In that case, E N E_N equals 1 / N 1/N times the number of solutions to 1 x 2 + y 2 N , 1 \le x^2+y^2 \le N, which is (one less than) the number of lattice points inside the first quadrant of a circle of radius N \sqrt{N} centered at the origin, which is 1 N ( 1 4 π N + O ( N ) ) = π 4 + O ( 1 / N ) . \frac1{N} \left( \frac14 \pi N + O(\sqrt{N}) \right) = \frac{\pi}4 + O(1/\sqrt{N}).

( Here is a nice reference to the so-called "Gauss circle problem.")

So the limit is π 4 0.785 . \frac{\pi}4 \approx \fbox{0.785}.

Thanks for pointing out the mistake. I have edited the problem for clarification.

X X - 2 years, 9 months ago

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