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HSC 2016 MX2 Combinatorics Marathon (archive) (3 Viewers)

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InteGrand

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.
 
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InteGrand

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Re: HSC 2016 MX2 Combinatorics Marathon



 
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KingOfActing

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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:

 
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