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2015 AMC 10A Problem 25

Problem 25 of 25HarderCounting & Probability

Let SS be a square of side length 1.1. Two points are chosen independently at random on the sides of S.S. The probability that the straight-line distance between the points is at least 12\dfrac{1}{2} is abπc,\dfrac{a-b\pi}{c}, where a,a, b,b, and cc are positive integers with gcd(a,b,c)=1.\gcd(a,b,c)=1. What is a+b+c?a+b+c?

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Solution

Fix one of the two points. The second point is on the same side with probability 14\frac14, on an adjacent side with probability 12\frac12, and on the opposite side with probability 14\frac14. On the same side, two coordinates a,b[0,1]a,b\in[0,1] are at distance at least 12\frac12 when ab12|a-b|\ge\frac12. This region consists of two right triangles with total area 14\frac14. On adjacent sides, the distance has the form a2+b2\sqrt{a^2+b^2}. The failing region is a quarter circle of radius 12\frac12, so the success probability is 1π161-\frac{\pi}{16}. On opposite sides, the distance is always at least 11, so the success probability is 11. Therefore the desired probability is 1414+12(1π16)+14=26π32. \begin{aligned} &\frac14\cdot\frac14 \\ &\quad {}+\frac12\left(1-\frac{\pi}{16}\right) \\ &\quad {}+\frac14=\frac{26-\pi}{32}. \end{aligned} Hence a+b+c=26+1+32=59a+b+c=26+1+32=59. Thus, A is the correct answer.

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Concepts: geometric probability · casework

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