Difference between revisions of "2002 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 18"

(Solution 2)
(Solution 2)
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=== Solution 2 ===
 
=== Solution 2 ===
 
<center><asy>
 
unitsize(36);
 
draw((-1,0)--(5,0)--(5,2)--(-1,2)--cycle);
 
draw((-1,2)--(-1,3));
 
draw((5,0)--(6,0));
 
draw((-1,0)--(-2,0));
 
draw((-1,0)--(-1,-1));
 
draw((3,0)--(3,2));
 
label("(0,0)",(-1.5,-0.5));
 
label("(3,1)",(5.5,2));
 
</asy></center>
 
  
 
Assume that a point <math>P</math> is randomly chosen inside the rectangle with vertices <math>(0,0)</math>, <math>(3,0)</math>, <math>(3,1)</math>, <math>(0,1)</math>.  
 
Assume that a point <math>P</math> is randomly chosen inside the rectangle with vertices <math>(0,0)</math>, <math>(3,0)</math>, <math>(3,1)</math>, <math>(0,1)</math>.  

Revision as of 16:00, 2 July 2019

Problem

A point $P$ is randomly selected from the rectangular region with vertices $(0,0),(2,0),(2,1),(0,1)$. What is the probability that $P$ is closer to the origin than it is to the point $(3,1)$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ \frac 12 \qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ \frac 23 \qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ \frac 34 \qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ \frac 45 \qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 1$

Solution

Solution 1

2002 12B AMC-18.png


The region containing the points closer to $(0,0)$ than to $(3,1)$ is bounded by the perpendicular bisector of the segment with endpoints $(0,0),(3,1)$. The perpendicular bisector passes through midpoint of $(0,0),(3,1)$, which is $\left(\frac 32, \frac 12\right)$, the center of the unit square with coordinates $(1,0),(2,0),(2,1),(1,1)$. Thus, it cuts the unit square into two equal halves of area $1/2$. The total area of the rectangle is $2$, so the area closer to the origin than to $(3,1)$ and in the rectangle is $2 - \frac 12 = \frac 32$. The probability is $\frac{3/2}{2} = \frac 34 \Rightarrow \mathrm{(C)}$.

Solution 2

Assume that a point $P$ is randomly chosen inside the rectangle with vertices $(0,0)$, $(3,0)$, $(3,1)$, $(0,1)$.

In this case, the probability that $P$ is closer to the origin than to point $(3,1)$ is $\frac{1}{2}$.

If $P$ is chosen within the square with vertices

See also

2002 AMC 12B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 17
Followed by
Problem 19
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

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