Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-ckgrl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-09-01T09:22:18.607Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

23 - Problem H: Discussion and Generalisations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 May 2024

Alan F. Beardon
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
Get access

Summary

First, suppose that k is an integer. If the segment L(k) meets the square S(a, b) thenL(k) ∩ S(a, b) is either a diagonal (of length) of S(a, b), or a vertex (of length 0) of S(a, b). It is easy to see that there are approximately twice as many squares S(a, b) for which the intersection is a point as there are for which the intersection is the diagonal. Thus the limiting answer should be (which it is).

Now consider the second question in Part III. As t has a uniform probability distribution on [0, 2], the appropriate probability density function is dt. Next, a simple calculation gives

Since it is obvious that 0(t ) = 0(2 − t ) we need only verify the first formula here. However, we should also verify the second formula directly as this will serve as a check on our working. In any case, the expected value of 0(t) is

which is the same as the limiting value of A(k) as k→∞ avoiding integer values.

Now consider the three-dimensional problem. For non-negative integers a, b and c, let C(a, b, c) be the cube in R3 that corresponds to the square S(a, b) in R2. Also, for each integer m, let (m) be the number of triples (a, b, c) of non-negative integers such that a + b + c = m.

Type
Chapter
Information
Creative Mathematics
A Gateway to Research
, pp. 97 - 98
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×