• Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on your results!
    Let us know how you went here
    Got a question about your uni preferences? Ask us here

HSC 2016 MX2 Combinatorics Marathon (archive) (2 Viewers)

Status
Not open for further replies.

InteGrand

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2014
Messages
6,109
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
Re: HSC 2016 MX2 Combinatorics Marathon

I'd interpreted it as that too, main reason being that braintic had referred to a "length" in part (a), so I thought he was talking about this length again in part (b).
 

Paradoxica

-insert title here-
Joined
Jun 19, 2014
Messages
2,556
Location
Outside reality
Gender
Male
HSC
2016
Re: HSC 2016 MX2 Combinatorics Marathon

It hadn't occurred to me that my question was ambiguous. My intention was that the original interval remains length 1, and the length of the middle segment would change to get a probability of 1/3.
That's alright, we got both answers anyway!

And we can take this as a point to make for future questions: Be wary of ambiguity.
 

InteGrand

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2014
Messages
6,109
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
Re: HSC 2016 MX2 Combinatorics Marathon

Open to all. And the method IS related to a past HSC question.
Is this past HSC Q. the one about waiting times (I think might have been the last Q. of a 2U paper)?
 

Paradoxica

-insert title here-
Joined
Jun 19, 2014
Messages
2,556
Location
Outside reality
Gender
Male
HSC
2016
Re: HSC 2016 MX2 Combinatorics Marathon

A and B are random, independent, uniformly distributed points on the interval [0,1], and divide the interval into three segments.

What is the probability that the three segments can form a triangle?
 

braintic

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
2,137
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Re: HSC 2016 MX2 Combinatorics Marathon

Just checking - is the answer 1/4 ?
(If it is, I'll leave it for someone else to provide a solution)
 

braintic

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
2,137
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Re: HSC 2016 MX2 Combinatorics Marathon

Wow, leaving things as exercises to readers.

You'd make a great stereotypical publisher.
Well I am the teacher here. I have to limit my showing off for the benefit of the students .... difficult as that might be.
 

Ambility

Active Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2014
Messages
336
Gender
Male
HSC
2016
Re: HSC 2016 MX2 Combinatorics Marathon

What's the final answer? I think my answer may be too simple
Haha I'm actually putting this up because I wasn't sure about my answer either. I got 1932 ways, what did you get?
 

Drsoccerball

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 28, 2014
Messages
3,650
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
2015
Re: HSC 2016 MX2 Combinatorics Marathon

Haha I'm actually putting this up because I wasn't sure about my answer either. I got 1932 ways, what did you get?
Yes, your answer's correct.
 
Last edited:

InteGrand

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2014
Messages
6,109
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
Re: HSC 2016 MX2 Combinatorics Marathon



 
Last edited:

KingOfActing

lukewarm mess
Joined
Oct 31, 2015
Messages
1,016
Location
Sydney
Gender
Male
HSC
2016
Re: HSC 2016 MX2 Combinatorics Marathon

For part b I'm not sure if I did it right, if the result is right I'll post the working:

 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 2)

Top