9 6 problem solving geometric probability answers

Geometric probability

Geometric counting and probability.

https://youtu.be/OOdK-nOzaII?t=1858

Introduction

When dealing with a probability problem involving discrete quantities, we often times just use the fact that probability is the ratio of the number of successful outcomes to the number of total outcomes.

However, we can have a situation where the quantities are continuous . We can still use the same notion that probability is the ratio of successful outcomes to total outcomes, but we cannot simply count the number of successful outcomes and the number of total outcomes. Instead, we have to find the size of each set. This is where we turn to geometric probability . We can usually translate a probability problem into a geometry problem. We can use length for one dimension, area for two dimensions, or volume for three dimensions.

• AIME 1998/9
• AIME 2004I/10
• 2015 AMC 10A Problem 25
• Combinatorics

Something appears to not have loaded correctly.

Click to refresh .

Reset password New user? Sign up

Existing user? Log in

Geometric Probability

Already have an account? Log in here.

Recommended Course

Applied probability.

A framework for understanding the world around us, from sports to science.

• Sharky Kesa
• Mahindra Jain
• A Former Brilliant Member
• Samarpit Swain

Geometric probability is a tool to deal with the problem of infinite outcomes by measuring the number of outcomes geometrically, in terms of length, area, or volume. In basic probability, we usually encounter problems that are "discrete" (e.g. the outcome of a dice roll; see probability by outcomes for more). However, some of the most interesting problems involve "continuous" variables (e.g., the arrival time of your bus).

Dealing with continuous variables can be tricky, but geometric probability provides a useful approach by allowing us to transform probability problems into geometry problems. If this sounds surprising, take a look at the following problem:

Your bus is coming at a random time between 12 pm and 1 pm. If you show up at 12:30 pm, how likely are you to catch the bus?

Intuitively, the answer seems to be \(\frac{1} {2} \). We can show this geometrically by considering a point chosen randomly on a 1-dimensional number line: the length of the number line between 12:30 pm and 1 pm is equal to the length from 12 pm to 12:30 pm.

While this example is fairly straightforward, many complicated problems can be solved simply by using geometric probability. On this page, we will start with 1D examples, which are the simplest and easy to understand and then work our way up to 2D, 3D, and higher dimensions.

Introduction

1-dimensional geometric probability, 2-dimensional geometric probability, 3-dimensional geometric probability, applications, extra challenges.

One of the main ideas in probability is to count the number of equally likely "desired" outcomes, and then divide that by the number of equally likely total outcomes:

\[ P(X) = \frac{\mbox{desired outcomes}}{\mbox{total outcomes}} .\]

However, when a variable is continuous , it becomes impossible to "count" the outcomes in the traditional sense. For example, if \(X\) is a random real number between 0 and 1, it could be \(0.2\) or \(0.53\) or \(0.434662565465465\) or even something irrational like \(\frac{\pi}{4}.\) It is clear that there are infinite outcomes if we count in the traditional sense.

Let's look more at the situation where \(X\) is a random real number, as mentioned in the Introduction section.

\(X\) is a random real number between 0 and 3. What is the probability \(X\) is closer to 0 than it is to 1? Since there are infinitely many possible outcomes for the value of \(X,\) we will take the equally likely outcomes as random points along the number line from 0 to 3. It’s easy to see that \(X\) will be closer to 0 than it is to 1 if \(X<0.5.\) Probability line Now, we can use the measures (lengths, in this 1D case) of our possible outcomes and apply the usual probability formula. Here, \[P(X\text{ is closer to 0 than to 1}) = \frac{\mbox{length of segment where }0<X<0.5}{\mbox{length of segment where }0<X<3} = \frac{0.5}{3} = \frac{1}{6} \approx 17\%.\ _\square\]

To reiterate, the core idea in one-dimensional (1D) geometric probability is translating a probability question into a geometry problem on a number line, where we measure outcomes with length . To make sure you've got this concept down, try this problem related to rounding errors:

A number is uniformly chosen from \( [0.15, 0.25] \). It was rounded to two decimal places and then to one decimal place. The probability that the final value is \( 0.2 \) is \( X \% \). What is \(X?\)

Assumption: Use rounding "half away from zero". That is, if the number is equally far from the two closest numbers, choose the one away from zero. For example, 2.5 is equally far from 2 and 3, so round 2.5 to 3.

The reason as to why this works is a more advanced topic, which deals with the idea of measure theory . Measure theory gives a rigorous framework for probability theory, including probabilities on finite sets. Measure theory is also the key idea behind integration in calculus, and can be used to find integrals of functions that seem non-integrable using “standard” methods. These two ideas are not unrelated, as at a fundamental level, probability theory is just a special case of integration.

We will do a few more examples on working with geometric probabilities in higher dimensions to get a better feel for how to work with the concept. It is often helpful to use a figure to help with understanding and solving these types of problems.

Many probability problems include more than one variable, so 1D geometric probability won't be enough. For problems with two variables, it is often helpful to transform them into 2D geometric probability questions, where the outcomes are measured by area :

\[P(X) = \dfrac{\text{area of desired outcomes}}{\text{area of total outcomes}}.\]

This is most easily understood when the problem at hand is explicitly a 2D geometry problem:

A dart is thrown at a circular dartboard such that it will land randomly over the area of the dartboard. What is the probability that it lands closer to the center than to the edge? The set of outcomes are all of the points on the dartboard, which make up an area of \(\pi r^2\) where \(r\) is the radius of the circle. The points that are closer to the center than to the edge are those that lie within the circle of radius \(\frac{r}{2}\) around the center, so the area of the "success" outcomes is \(\pi \left(\frac{r}{2}\right)^2 = \frac{\pi r^2}{4}.\) Thus, \[P(\text{closer to center than edge}) = \dfrac{\text{area of desired outcomes}}{\text{area of total outcomes}} = \frac{\frac{\pi r^2}{4}}{\pi r^2} = \frac{1}{4} = 25\%.\ _\square\]

A square \( S \) has side length 30. A standard 20-sided die is rolled, and a square \( T \) is constructed inside \( S \) with side length equal to the roll. Then, a dart is thrown and lands randomly somewhere inside square \( S \). What is the probability that the dart also lands inside square \( T ?\) Suppose the die rolls \( i \). Then the probability that the dart will land inside square \( T \) is the ratio of the area of square \( T \) to the area of square \( S \). This is \( \frac{i^2}{900} \). For each \( i \), the probability that the die will roll \( i \) is \( \frac{1}{20}, \) so the probability that the dart lands inside \( T \) will be \[ \sum\limits_{i=1}^{20} \frac{1}{20}\cdot \frac{i^2}{900} = \frac{1}{20} \cdot \frac{20 \times 21 \times 41}{900 \times 6} = \frac{287}{1800} . \ _\square\]

The difficulty associated with geometric probability usually comes from one of two areas: the first is finding a good way to model the problem geometrically, and the second is in trying to determine the areas/volumes of particular regions in order to calculate the relative probabilities. As in finite probability, it is sometimes simpler to find the probability of the complement.

To make sure you've got down the basic ideas of 2D geometric probability, try this similar question. Note that many 2D geometry problems, such as the one below, use the ideas of composite figures. If you are not familiar with that concept, you may want to take a look at composite figures first.

The dartboard above is made up of three concentric circles with radii \(1, 3,\) and \(5.\) Assuming that a dart thrown will land randomly on the dartboard, what is the probability that it lands in the green region?

However, one of the most powerful uses of geometric probability is applying it to problems that are not inherently geometric. Identifying when and how to use geometric probability is never obvious, but a good sign is that you are dealing with probabilities in a situation with continuous variables. Let's take a look at a modified example of the bus problem mentioned at the beginning of this wiki.

Both the bus and you get to the bus stop at random times between 12 pm and 1 pm. When the bus arrives, it waits for 5 minutes before leaving. When you arrive, you wait for 20 minutes before leaving if the bus doesn't come. What is the probability that you catch the bus? We have two continuous variables here: \(b,\) the time in minutes past 12 pm that the bus arrives, and \(y,\) the time in minutes past 12 pm that you arrive. Since there are 2 independent variables, we will convert this into a 2-dimensional geometry problem. Specifically, we can think of the set of all outcomes as the points in a square: Then, we need to determine the region of "success"; that is, the points where we catch the bus. Since the bus will wait for 5 minutes, you need to arrive within 5 minutes of the bus' arrival, or \(y \le b+5:\) However, you only wait for 20 minutes, so you can't arrive more than 20 minutes before the bus, so \(y \ge b-20:\) Combining our two conditions, we have a region of success as shown below: Now, we just need to find the area of this success region. A simple method is to find the area of the non-success region, and then subtract that from the total area: Thus, the probability of catching the bus is \[P(\text{catching the bus}) = \dfrac{\text{area of desired outcomes}}{\text{area of total outcomes}} = \frac{60^2 - \frac{55^2}{2}-\frac{40^2}{2}}{60^2} = \frac{103}{288} \approx 36\%.\ _\square\]

Now that we have changed our problem into a geometric one, we can easily answer other questions about the situation such as the following:

1) What is the probability that the bus does not have to wait for you? 2) What is the probability that you had to wait less than 10 minutes, given that you were able to catch the bus? 3) What is the probability that the bus came and went before you, given that you were not able to board the bus?

To practice these ideas, let's try a similar question:

Dave and Kathy both arrive at Pizza Palace at two random times between 10:00 p.m. and midnight. They agree to wait exactly 15 minutes for each other to arrive before leaving. What is the probability that Dave and Kathy see each other?

If the probability is \( \frac ab\) for coprime positive integers, give the answer as \(a+b\).

You have many chocolate bars of unit length and start breaking each of them into 3 pieces by randomly choosing two points on the bar. What are the average lengths of the shortest, medium, and longest pieces?

If the product of these averages can be expressed as \( \frac pq\), where \(p\) and \(q\) are coprime positive integers, give your answer as \(p+ q\).

At this point, you can probably guess where this is headed! 3D geometric probability is when we are dealing with 3 continuous variables, and we measure the volume of the various outcomes; that is,

\[P(X) = \dfrac{\text{volume of desired outcomes}}{\text{volume of total outcomes}}.\]

To get started, let's look at an example which is analogous to the first problem we solved in the 2D geometric probability section.

An atom is inside a sphere and it is equally likely to be anywhere within the sphere. What is the probability that it lands closer to the center of the sphere than the outside? The set of outcomes are all of the points in the sphere, which make up a volume of \(\frac{4\pi}{3} r^3\) where \(r\) is the radius of the sphere. The points that are closer to the center than to the edge are those that lie within the sphere of radius \(\frac{r}{2}\) around the center, so the volume of the "success" outcomes is \(\frac{4\pi}{3} \left(\frac{r}{2}\right)^3 = \frac{\pi}{6}r^3.\) Thus, \[P(\text{closer to center than outside}) = \dfrac{\text{volume of desired outcomes}}{\text{volume of total outcomes}} = \frac{\frac{\pi}{6}r^3}{\frac{4\pi}{3} r^3} = \frac{1}{8} = 12.5\%.\ _\square\]

Of course, not all problems will be so explicitly geometric in nature. As usual, one of the signs that we might want to apply geometric probability is that we are dealing with continuous variables. Let's see how we can approach the following example:

Alex, Bob, and Charlie each randomly pick a real number between 0 and 1. What is the probability that the sum of the squares of their numbers does not exceed 1? First, if we let their 3 numbers be \(x,\) \(y,\) and \(z,\) it is easy to see that the outcomes can be represented as points within a unit cube \(\big(\)the cube that encloses the region \(x,y,z \in [0,1]\big),\) which has volume \(1^3 = 1.\) Then, the region where the sum of the squares of their numbers does not exceed 1 is given by \(x^2+y^2+z^2 \le 1,\) which (without restriction) is the sphere of radius 1 centered around the origin \((0,0,0).\) However, since \(x,y,z\ge 0,\) exactly \(\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^3 = \frac{1}{8}\) of this sphere (one "octant") lies within the unit cube of possible outcomes. Hence, the volume of this "success" region is \(\frac{1}{8} \cdot \left(\frac{4\pi}{3} \cdot 1^3\right) = \frac{\pi}{6}.\) Thus, \[P(\text{sum of squares does not exceed 1}) = \dfrac{\text{volume of desired outcomes}}{\text{volume of total outcomes}} = \frac{\frac{\pi}{6}}{1} = \frac{\pi}{6} = 52\%.\ _\square\]

If 3 real numbers are chosen randomly and uniformly from \([0,1],\) what is the probability that the square of one of the numbers will be greater than the sum of the squares of the other two numbers?

In addition to being a useful mathematical problem-solving tool, geometric probability can also be applied in other scientific fields. Let's start with an example from mechanics, using the ideas of velocity and acceleration .

We are playing shuffleboard on the table below, where the lengths of the regions are labelled below (in meters). You push the puck with initial velocity \(v,\) where \(v\) is randomly chosen between 5 and 15 meters/second. Since the table is rough, the puck decelerates at a constant rate of 5 m/s\(^2.\) What is the probability that you slide the puck off of the table? (You may assume that the puck is negligibly small.) In this problem, we have only one variable--the initial speed of the puck--so this is going to be a 1-dimensional geometry problem. Recall the kinematics formula \( v_{f} ^{2} = v_{i}^{2} + 2 a s \). The final speed \(v_ {f }\) is zero because the puck comes to a rest. The initial speed \( v_{i} = v\). The distance traveled \(s\) will decide how many points we get. After plugging in the values, we get \[s = \frac{ v^{ 2 } }{ 10 }, \] so \(s>8+4+2+1=15\) occurs when \(v>\sqrt{150}.\) If we think of \(v\) as being a point on a number line between 5 and 15, then we can find our probability as \[\frac{15-\sqrt{150}}{15-5} \approx 28\%.\ _\square\]

Awesome! Who would have expected that geometric probability would allow us to solve a physics problem? Let's check out a few more examples.

A block performs simple harmonic motion with time period \(T\) and maximum speed \(v\). The speed of the block is measured at a random time. What is the probability that the measured speed is more than \(\frac v2?\) Let's plot the block's position (light gray) and velocity (gray). As we are interested in relative values, the specific vertical scaling of the plot is not important. Green time intervals represent times at which we would do a positive measure, where the measured speed, or absolute value of velocity, would exceed \(\frac v2\). These intervals are \(\left(k \pi + \frac{\pi}6, k \pi + 5 \cdot \frac{\pi}6\right)\) for any whole number \(k\), since the start of the first green interval from the vertical axis is at time \(t\) for which \(-\sin{t} = -\frac12\), so \(t = \frac{\pi}6\). Since the motion is periodic and the measure can take place at any time with equal probability, we can argue that the probability of a positive measure is \[\frac{N \times 2 \left(5\cdot \frac{\pi}6 -\frac{\pi}6\right)}{N \times 2\pi} = \frac{2}{3},\] where the system makes \(N\) periods. \(_\square\)

Johannes Kepler worked out that all planets revolve around the sun in elliptical orbits with the sun at one focus. He also deduced that planets revolve around the sun with constant areal velocity. Let's model a small star system in which a planet revolves around the star in an elliptical orbit. It has semi-major axis \(a\) and semi-minor axis \(b\). During one revolution, the minimum speed of the planet is \(u\) and the maximum speed is \(v\). In a complete revolution, an instant of time is randomly and uniformly chosen. What is the probability that the distance between the planet and the star at that instant is more than \(b?\) Kepler observed that planets don't orbit the sun at a uniform speed, but rather move faster when they are closer to the sun and more slowly when they are farther away. He specifically determined that the orbital speed of a planet is such that the line drawn from the sun to the planet sweeps out equal areas in equal intervals of time. This means that the time the planet spends at distant positions is proportional to the area the line sweeps at those positions. Our probability is then \[ \mathbb{P}\big[(\text{measured distance}) > b\big] = \frac{(\text{time spent at distance}) > b}{(\text{time period})} = \frac{A}{A_0} = \frac{A}{\pi \, a \, b}, \] where \(A_0\) is the area of the ellipse and \(A\) is the unknown area that the sun-planet radius vector sweeps out while the planet is far away. The problem then reduces to finding this area: Let's draw the orbit in Cartesian coordinates with \(x\) and \(y\) in units of semi-axis \(a\). Let axis ratio \(\mu =\frac ba\), with \(\mu = 0.6\) in the picture above. The sun is at the left focus \(S\) with coordinates \(\big(-\sqrt{a^2 - b^2}, 0\big).\) Draw a circle with radius \(b\) that is centered at the sun, and find an intersection with the ellipse at point \(P\) with coordinates \(\left( -a \, \sqrt{\frac{a - b}{a + b}}, \sqrt{\frac{2 \, b^3}{a + b}} \right).\) This follows by writing down the equations of the ellipse and circle, respectively: \[\begin{align} \left(\frac{x}{a}\right)^2 + \left(\frac{y}{b}\right)^2 &= 1 \\ (x + c)^2 + y^2 &= b^2 \end{align} \] with \(c = \sqrt{a^2 - b^2}\), and by finding point \(P\) at which the curves meet. We will naturally divide the calculation of the area by integrating the upper branch of the ellipse from the \(x\)-coordinate of \(P\), and by adding the area of triangle \(P S Q\). The picture indicates area division by different shades of green: \[ \begin{align} A &= 2 \times \Bigg( \frac{1}{2} \cdot \left(c - a \, \sqrt{\frac{a - b}{a + b}}\right) \cdot \sqrt{\frac{2 \, b^3}{a + b}} + b \, \int_{x_1}^{x_2} \sqrt{1 - \left(\frac{x}{a}\right)^2} \, dx \Bigg)\\ &= \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{\pi} \cdot \left( \sqrt{2 \, \mu \, (1 - \mu)} + \arcsin{\sqrt{\frac{1 - \mu}{1 + \mu}}} \right). \end{align} \] We integrated from \( x_1 = -a \, \sqrt{\frac{a - b}{a + b}} \) to \( x_2 = a \). Below is the plot of the resulting probability in terms of axis ratio \(\mu\). With \(\mu = 0.6\) the probability of finding the planet farther than \(b\) is about 89%. \(_\square\) With the eccentricity of the orbit close to zero, the ellipse is heavily prolonged and the chance of finding the planet in the vicinity of the sun is small, because i) the major part of the orbit is farther from sun, and ii) when the planet does approach the sun, its speed is large, and hence its visitation time is short. On the other hand, when the eccentricity is close to one, the ellipse is close to a circle and the orbital velocity of the planet is approximately constant, which means that the planet spends about half the time at distances less than \(b\), and half the time farther away. This can be seen in the animation below where the axis ratio \( \mu \) oscillates between \(0.2\) and \(0.99\). Caveat: Imagine the ideal case \( b = a \) of a perfect circle. If a planet orbits its sun at a constant distance \( b,\) we surely could never measure its distance at more than \( b \). But the result above suggests the chance should be even. How would you explain this?

There are many great problems in geometric probability. If you'd like some extra challenges, check out these problems. If you'd like to contribute to this wiki, you can add a solution to one of the examples!

Two numbers are chosen randomly and uniformly from \([-a, a]\). What is the probability that the absolute value of the smaller number is greater than two times the absolute value of the larger number? Does the final answer depend on the value of \(a?\) Let \(X\) and \(Y\) represent the two random numbers. Chances of \(X\) being smaller than \(Y\) are even, so we can focus on the case \(X < Y\). Our probability is then \[ \mathbb{P} \big( |X| > 2 \cdot |Y| \big) = \frac{a^2}{2} : \frac{(2 a)^2}{2} = \frac{1}{4}. \] The probability expression involves two absolute values, so it splits to four cases, depending on the signs of the variates: i) \( (X < 0) \land (Y > 0)\) ii) \( (X < 0) \land (Y < 0)\) iii) \( (X > 0) \land (Y > 0)\) iv) \( (X > 0) \land (Y < 0)\). Solutions of the last two, together with the starting assumption, are empty sets. The union of the solutions of the first two cases is shaded in the picture below. Mind that we divided by half of the area of the square \(2 \cdot a^2\), since we started by reducing the probability space to the region above the line \(X = Y\). Note also that the answer doesn't involve \(a\), so that it would stay the same as long as we picked the two variates from some common interval. \(_\square\)

Two points are randomly and uniformly selected on the circumference of a circle. The center of the circle and the two points are joined together. What is the probability that we obtain each of the following? \(\begin{array}{rrl} &\text{i)} &\text{a line segment} \\ &\text{ii)} &\text{an acute-angled triangle} \\ &\text{iii)} &\text{a right-angled triangle} \\ &\text{iv)} &\text{an obtuse-angled triangle} \end{array}\) We may suppose that the two points \(A\) and \(B\) are selected independently so we can, without loss of generality, select and place \(B\) relatively to \(A\). i) Answer: \(0\). Why? Line segment would occur if \(B\) was placed at exact angle \(\pi\) to \(A\). But a continuous variable has zero chance of taking a specific value (what is the width of a point?). ii) Answer: \(\frac{1}{2}\). Why? Triangle would be acute if \(B\) was placed at some angle in the interval \(\big[-\frac{\pi}{2}, \frac{\pi}{2}\big]\). Values \(-\frac{\pi}{2}\) and \(\frac{\pi}{2}\) (such triangle would be right-angled ) and \(0\) ( degenerate ) should be excluded, yet again, some specific discrete values don't change the probability. iii) Answer: \(0\). Why? See above. iv) Answer: \(\frac{1}{2}\). Why? Triangle can be either acute or obtuse, with even chances. \(_\square\)

Two points are randomly and uniformly selected from the interior of a circle. The center of the circle and the two points are joined together. What is the probability that we obtain each of the following? \(\begin{array}{rrl} &\text{i)} &\text{a line segment} \\ &\text{ii)} &\text{an acute-angled triangle} \\ &\text{iii)} &\text{a right-angled triangle} \\ &\text{iv)} &\text{an obtuse-angled triangle} \end{array}\)

Two points are chosen randomly and uniformly along a stick of length \(1.\) The stick is cut at those points to form \(3\) pieces. What is the probability that these pieces can form a triangle?

Two real numbers \(a\) and \(b\) are randomly chosen from the range \((0,1).\) The probability that \(\frac{a}{b}\) rounded to the nearest integer is odd is equal to \(P.\) What is \(\lfloor1000P\rfloor?\)

Large tablecloth has parallel vertical lines unit apart. Thin wooden stick of length \( \frac{3}{2} \) is twirled and tossed on the table. If \(P\) is the chance that the stick crosses two lines when it lands and comes to rest, how much is \(10^{10} \times P\), rounded to nearest whole number?

How large is the table exactly? Assume infinite expanse, infinitely thin lines, etc. The picture below depicts some sticks that are colored by the number of crossings.

Master concepts like these

Learn more in our Applied Probability course, built by experts for you.

Problem Loading...

Note Loading...

Set Loading...

Geometric Probability

Geometric probability is the visual representation of probability. Many of the probabilities are continuous and for these probabilities, it is easy to represent as a geometric probability. The area of the geometric figure is used to compute the probabilities. The geometric probability is the probable area divided by the entire area.

Let us learn more about geometric probability and the representation of geometric probability with the help of examples, FAQs.

What Is Geometric Probability?

Geometric probability is the representation of probability geometrically. The probabilities which are non-discrete or are continuous are represented across a number line or across a two-dimensional plane. The experiment having numerous probability outcomes are often represented as a geometric probability.

Probability is the mathematical way of calculating how likely a particular event may happen. Probability values always lie between 0 and 1,and sometimes they are also expressed as a percentage. The geometric probability is the representation of the probability as a form of a geometric figure such that the happening of an event is shaded as part of the area of the entire figure. We can assume geometric probability as a dartboard and the probability of hitting a particular area of the dartboard.

For calculation of geometric probability, we are only required to know the expected area where we want to hit with reference to the total area. Geometric probability is obtained by dividing the expected area by the total area.

Geometric Probability = Probable Area/Total Area

Geometric probability is also used to sometimes represent the different outcome probabilities at the same time. A few quick examples of geometric probability are as follows.

• The probability of the arrival of a train across a time period is a continuous probability, which can be represented as a geometric probability.
• In a class, the probability of a number of students gaining 65% or more marks can be represented as a geometric probability. This can be represented as a normal distribution, and the probability region can be shaded.
• Among a group of people, 30% drink tea, 40% drink coffee, and the remaining 30% drink soft drinks. This can be represented as a shaded region in a pi diagram.
• The probability of incidence of covid-19 among the population can be graphically represented as a geometric probability.

Representation of Geometric Probability

The geometric probabilities can be represented in a single dimension, two-dimensions, or n-dimensions, and can be represented as an area of the shaded probable region, with reference to the area of the entire region.

Number Line: The continuous probabilities are marked as a point on the number lines, and the length of the line from the starting point divided by the entire length of the line gives the probability answer.

Two Dimensional Plane: The geometric probability can be represented in the two-dimensional graph as a normal curve, as a pi diagram, or any other geometric shape. For the representation of the probability of a single event we use the normal curve, and represent the probability as the part of the area of the normal curve. And for representing multiple probabilities we use a Pi diagram or any other diagram. Further, we can represent geometric probability in higher dimensions also.

Percentage Format: Geometri probability is numerically represented as a percentage. The percentage value represents the happening of the event or the area of the geometric figure. 100% refers to the entire shaded image and it means the sure happening of the event. A 50% is represented as a half-shaded region and is equal to half of the chances of happening of an event.

☛ Related Topics

• Discrete Probability Distribution
• Probability Theory
• Events in Probability
• Theoretical Probability
• Probability Distribution
• Probability Tree Diagram

Examples on Geometric Probability

Example 1: Find the geometric probability of selecting a girl from a class, if the girls of the class are represented by a circle of radius 3.5 cms, and the entire class of students is represented by a larger square of side 8 cms.

Given that the girls represent the circle if radius 3.5cms, and the entire class of students represent a square of side 8 cms.

Area of the circle = πr 2 = 22/7 × 3.5 × 3.5 = 38.5

Area of the square = s 2 = 8 × 8 = 64

Probability of selecting the girl = Area of Circle/Area of Square

Probability of selecting the girl = 38.5/64

Therefore the probability of selecting the girl from the class of students is 38.5/64.

Example 2: Find the geometric probability of the number of students who can speak English, if the people are represented s sectors in a circle, and the English-speaking people represent a sector of 120°.

The number of people who speak English is represented by a sector of angle 120°, and the total number of students of the class are represented by the entire circle, which is an angle of 360°.

Probability of people speaking English = Area of sector/Area of circle = Angle of the sector/Complete angle

Probability of people speaking English = 120°/360° = 1/3

Therefore the probability of people speaking English language is 1/3.

go to slide go to slide

Book a Free Trial Class

Practice Questions on Geometric Probability

Faqs on geometric probability, what is geometric probability in maths.

Geometric probability is the geometric or visual representation of probability in one, two or n-dimensional framework. The experiment having numerous probability outcomes are often represented as a geometric probability. For calculation of geometric probability, we are only required to know the expected area where we want to hit with reference to the total area. Geometric probability is obtained by dividing the expected area by the total area.

Where Do We Use Geometric Probability?

The geometric probabilities are used if the range of probabilities is huge and it is difficult to represent it with a simple value. The geometric quantities of length, area, angle are used to express the probabilities of events.

What Are The Formulas Of Geometric Probability?

The formula of geometric probability is the expected area divided by the total area. We have Geometric Probability = Probable Area/Total Area . Also sometimes in place of area, we can also use the length, angle, or any other geometric quantity.

What Are The Examples Of Geometric Probability?

The examples of geometric probability include events that have a range of probabilities such as the probability of arrival of a bus across a time period. Also simple probabilities with multiple events can be represented as a geometric probability. If a party has people drinking tea, coffee, soft drink, milkshake, water, soda lime, then the probabilities can be easily represented using geometric probability.

What Is The Difference Between Geometric Probability And Discrete Probability?

The geometric probability is different from discrete probability, as the discrete probability has countable events which can be easily computed. The probabilities having continuous probabilities cannot be easily calculated and here we can use geometric probability. Probabilities involving dice, playing cards, coins are all simple examples of discrete probability, but probabilities involving student with a performance range, probabilities with time range can be represented using geometric probability.

Geometry and Probability

Related Topics: More Probability Lessons

In these lessons, we will learn how to solve probability problems that may involve geometry and the area of geometrical shapes.

ABCD is a square. M is the midpoint of BC and N is the midpoint of CD . A point is selected at random in the square. Calculate the probability that it lies in the triangle MCN .

Let 2 x be the length of the square.

Area of square = 2 x × 2 x = 4 x 2

The figure shows a circle with centre O and radius 8 cm. Ð* BOD* = 72˚. The radius of the smaller circle is 4 cm. A point is selected at random inside the larger circle BCDE .

Calculate the probability that the point lies a) inside the sector BODC . b) inside the smaller circle c) neither in the sector BODC nor in the smaller circle.

c) Probability that the point does not lie in sector BODC or the smaller circle

Geometric Probability with Area Example 1: A circle with radius 2 lies inside a square with side length 6. A dart lands randomly inside the square. What is the probability the dart lands inside the circle? Give the exact probability and the probability as a percent rounded to the nearest tenth. Example 2: A point is chosen at random on the given figure. What is the probability that the point is in the yellow region? Example 3: A square is inscribed in a circle. What is the probability that a point chosen inside the circle will be inside the square? Example 4: A circle is inscribed in a equilateral triangle. What is the probability that a point chosen at random inside the triangle will be insode the circle?

Using Area to find Probability Example: A circle is inscribed in a square. Point Q in the square is chosen at random. What is the probability that Q lies in the shaded region?

Geometric Probability and Areas of Sectors Geometric Probability is probability that involves geometric measures (typically length or area) Example: Find the area of the indicated sector. Then find the probability of spinning the color indicated if the diameter is 12 cm.

Study Guide Area Probability Problem 1 Example: Find the probability that a point randomly selected from the figure will land in the shaded area.

Study Guide Area Probability Problem 2 Example: Find the probability that a point randomly selected from the figure will land in the shaded area.

Geometric Probability

We welcome your feedback, comments and questions about this site or page. Please submit your feedback or enquiries via our Feedback page.