This is a very beautiful sample problem from ISI MStat PSB 2004 Problem 4 based on finding the probability using Uniform distribution . Let's give it a try !!
Two policemen are sent to watch a road that is long. Each of the two policemen is assigned a position on the road which is chosen according to a uniform distribution along the length of the road and independent of the other's position. Find the probability that the
policemen will be less than 1/4 kilometer apart when they reach their assigned posts.
Uniform Distribution
Basic geometry
Let X be the position of a policeman and Y be the position of another policeman on the road of 1km length .
As it is given that chosen according to a uniform distribution along the length of the road and independent of the other's position hence we can say that and
and X,Y are independent .
Now we have to find the probability that the policemen will be less than 1/4 kilometer apart when they reach their assigned posts , which is
nothing but .
So , let's calculate the probability here some sort of geometry will help to calculate it easily !
In general we have 0<X<1 and 0<Y<1 and hence the total probability is the area of the square
And in favourable case we have . so, it's basically the area covered by ACBDEF = Area covered by square - area of the triangles BGD and AFH =
-
=
.
Therefore
Calculate the same under the condition that road is of length (b-a) , b>a and both are positive real number .
This is a very beautiful sample problem from ISI MStat PSB 2004 Problem 4 based on finding the probability using Uniform distribution . Let's give it a try !!
Two policemen are sent to watch a road that is long. Each of the two policemen is assigned a position on the road which is chosen according to a uniform distribution along the length of the road and independent of the other's position. Find the probability that the
policemen will be less than 1/4 kilometer apart when they reach their assigned posts.
Uniform Distribution
Basic geometry
Let X be the position of a policeman and Y be the position of another policeman on the road of 1km length .
As it is given that chosen according to a uniform distribution along the length of the road and independent of the other's position hence we can say that and
and X,Y are independent .
Now we have to find the probability that the policemen will be less than 1/4 kilometer apart when they reach their assigned posts , which is
nothing but .
So , let's calculate the probability here some sort of geometry will help to calculate it easily !
In general we have 0<X<1 and 0<Y<1 and hence the total probability is the area of the square
And in favourable case we have . so, it's basically the area covered by ACBDEF = Area covered by square - area of the triangles BGD and AFH =
-
=
.
Therefore
Calculate the same under the condition that road is of length (b-a) , b>a and both are positive real number .