Probability that the closest integer to (y/x) being equal to 2.

What is the probability that the closest integer to (y/x) is equal to 2 ?

[ When x and y are two distinct real numbers selected randomly from the open interval of (0,1) ]

If this probability can be expressed in the form a/b.

Find a + b.


The answer is 17.

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1 solution

Tom Engelsman
Apr 14, 2019

We are interested when 3 2 < y x < 5 2 3 x 2 < y < 5 x 2 \frac{3}{2} < \frac{y}{x} < \frac{5}{2} \Rightarrow \frac{3x}{2} < y < \frac{5x}{2} . Plotting these two lines over the square region defined by ( 0 , 0 ) ; ( 1 , 0 ) ; ( 1 , 1 ) ; ( 0 , 1 ) (0,0); (1,0); (1,1); (0,1) will yield the feasible triangular region defined by the vertices: ( 0 , 0 ) ; ( 2 5 , 1 ) ; ( 2 3 , 1 ) (0,0); (\frac{2}{5},1); (\frac{2}{3},1) . Our required probability is equal to:

P = A t r i a n g l e A s q u a r e P = \frac{A_{triangle}}{A_{square}}

where A t r i a n g l e = 1 2 1 0 0 1 2 / 3 1 1 2 / 5 1 = 1 2 ( 2 3 2 5 ) = 2 15 . A_{triangle} = \frac{1}{2} \cdot \begin{vmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 2/3 & 1 \\ 1 & 2/5 & 1 \end{vmatrix} = \frac{1}{2} (\frac{2}{3} - \frac{2}{5}) = \frac{2}{15}.

Hence, P = 2 / 15 1 = 2 15 2 + 15 = 17 . P = \frac{2/15}{1} = \frac{2}{15} \Rightarrow 2 + 15 = \boxed{17}.

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