Point inside a triangle problem

varun.v4

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A point is chosen at random inside a triangle with height h and base of length b. What is the probability that the perpendicular distance from the point to the base is larger than a given value d with 0 < d < h?


Tijms, Henk (2012-06-14). Understanding Probability (p. 237). Cambridge University Press. Kindle Edition.
 
A point is chosen at random inside a triangle with height h and base of length b. What is the probability that the perpendicular distance from the point to the base is larger than a given value d with 0 < d < h?
This is straight-out an uniform distribution question. The answer is the ratio of the areas of two triangles.

Follow these direction carefully. Draw a line segment \(\displaystyle \overline {AC} \) parallel ti bottom of paper.
The length \(\displaystyle \left\| {\overline {AC} } \right\| = b\). Pick any point \(\displaystyle B\) above the line segment so that we now have \(\displaystyle \Delta ABC\). Draw a dotted line from \(\displaystyle B\) perpendicular to \(\displaystyle \overleftrightarrow {AC}\). That length \(\displaystyle h\) is the height of the triangle. Draw any line to parallel to \(\displaystyle \overleftrightarrow {AC}\) that intersects \(\displaystyle \overline {AB} \) between \(\displaystyle {A~\&~B} \) That line's distance to \(\displaystyle \overleftrightarrow {AC}\) is \(\displaystyle d\). Now we have \(\displaystyle 0<d<h\). There are now two triangles with common vertex \(\displaystyle B\). The ratio of the area of the smaller to the larger is your answer.
 
Last edited:
This is straight-out an uniform distribution question. The answer is the ratio of the areas of two triangles.

Follow these direction carefully. Draw a line segment \(\displaystyle \overline {AC} \) parallel ti bottom of paper.
The length \(\displaystyle \left\| {\overline {AC} } \right\| = b\). Pick any point \(\displaystyle B\) above the line segment so that we now have \(\displaystyle \Delta ABC\). Draw a dotted line from \(\displaystyle B\) perpendicular to \(\displaystyle \overleftrightarrow {AC}\). That length \(\displaystyle h\) is the height of the triangle. Draw any line to parallel to \(\displaystyle \overleftrightarrow {AC}\) that intersects \(\displaystyle \overline {AB} \) between \(\displaystyle {A~\&~B} \) That line's distance to \(\displaystyle \overleftrightarrow {AC}\) is \(\displaystyle d\). Now we have \(\displaystyle 0<d<h\). There are now two triangles with common vertex \(\displaystyle B\). The ratio of the area of the smaller to the larger is your answer.


Hi,

Tha answer is (h-d)^2/h^2... how can we get this answer?? please explain your workings..
 
Tha answer is (h-d)^2/h^2... how can we get this answer?? please explain your workings..
Actually, showing your steps is your job. Please reply showing your thoughts and efforts so far, so we can try to figure out where things are going wrong. Thank you! ;)
 
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