Solved: In a famous 18th-century problem, known as Buffons | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for Calculus: Early Transcendentals

Chapter 8 Problem 8.225

Question

In a famous 18th-century problem, known as Buffons needle problem, a needle of length is dropped onto a flat surface (for example, a table) on which parallel lines units apart, , have been drawn. The problem is to determine the probability that the needle will come to rest intersecting one of the lines. Assume that the lines run east-west, parallel to the -axis in a rectangular coordinate system (as in the figure). Let be the distance from the southern end of the needle to the nearest line to the north. (If the needles southern end lies on a line, let . If the needle happens to lie east-west, let the western end be the southern end.) Let be the angle that the needle makes with a ray extending eastward from the southern end. Then and . Note that the needle intersects one of the lines only when . The total set of possibilities for the needle can be identified with the rectangular region , , and the proportion of times that the needle intersects a line is the ratio This ratio is the probability that the needle intersects a line. Find the probability that the needle will intersect a line if . What if

Solution

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The first step in solving 8 problem number 225 trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: In a famous 18th-century problem, known as Buffons needle problem, a needle of length is dropped onto a flat surface (for example, a table) on which parallel lines units apart, , have been drawn. The problem is to determine the probability that the needle will come to rest intersecting one of the lines. Assume that the lines run east-west, parallel to the -axis in a rectangular coordinate system (as in the figure). Let be the distance from the southern end of the needle to the nearest line to the north. (If the needles southern end lies on a line, let . If the needle happens to lie east-west, let the western end be the southern end.) Let be the angle that the needle makes with a ray extending eastward from the southern end. Then and . Note that the needle intersects one of the lines only when . The total set of possibilities for the needle can be identified with the rectangular region , , and the proportion of times that the needle intersects a line is the ratio This ratio is the probability that the needle intersects a line. Find the probability that the needle will intersect a line if . What if
From the textbook chapter FURTHER APPLICATIONS OF INTEGRATION you will find a few key concepts needed to solve this.

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Title Calculus: Early Transcendentals 6 
Author James Stewart
ISBN 9780495011668

Solved: In a famous 18th-century problem, known as Buffons

Chapter 8 textbook questions

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