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.
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We are interested when 2 3 < x y < 2 5 ⇒ 2 3 x < y < 2 5 x . Plotting these two lines over the square region defined by ( 0 , 0 ) ; ( 1 , 0 ) ; ( 1 , 1 ) ; ( 0 , 1 ) will yield the feasible triangular region defined by the vertices: ( 0 , 0 ) ; ( 5 2 , 1 ) ; ( 3 2 , 1 ) . Our required probability is equal to:
P = A s q u a r e A t r i a n g l e
where A t r i a n g l e = 2 1 ⋅ ∣ ∣ ∣ ∣ ∣ ∣ 1 1 1 0 2 / 3 2 / 5 0 1 1 ∣ ∣ ∣ ∣ ∣ ∣ = 2 1 ( 3 2 − 5 2 ) = 1 5 2 .
Hence, P = 1 2 / 1 5 = 1 5 2 ⇒ 2 + 1 5 = 1 7 .