Probability Question

[nikhilneela]

Hi all,
I have a line segment and i cut into 3 parts. What is the probability that the 3 parts form a triangle? What would be the sample space for this?

[saukachi]

Do you have the answer?
I could solve it if I add a constraint that all the three parts have an integer value.

[nikhilneela]

I don't have answer. Ya u can assume that the three parts are integers.

[jnelson0612]

Hi all,
I have a line segment and i cut into 3 parts. What is the probability that the 3 parts form a triangle? What would be the sample space for this?

I think we need much more information to obtain this kind of a probability.

For example, if I have a length of rope 10.
I can cut it into 1-1-8 (no triangle)
Or 2-3-5 (no triangle)
Or 4-4-2 (triangle)
Or 3-3-4 (triangle)

If I have length of rope 4, I can have
1-1-2 (no triangle)
That's it assuming all the lengths are integers. Thus, I don't see how you could figure this probability without at a minimum knowing the length of rope.

Is this a question you found somewhere, or did you make this question up?

[nikhilneela]

Hi,
Thanks for ur time..I didnot make up this question. I was asked this question in an interview and i too asked the same way about the length of the rope. The person told me to assume the length to be an integer. That's it.

[jnelson0612]

Hi,
Thanks for ur time..I didnot make up this question. I was asked this question in an interview and i too asked the same way about the length of the rope. The person told me to assume the length to be an integer. That's it.

Got it! Well, I think this is about the best answer you could give. You could show that there are cases in which you could have a triangle and cases in which you might now. That is an interesting interview question.

[nikhilneela]

Got it! Well, I think this is about the best answer you could give. You could show that there are cases in which you could have a triangle and cases in which you might now. That is an interesting interview question.

Hi Nelson,
I dont understand what u mean by cases? What all cases are there for this question? Could u spare some time and elaborate?

[jnelson0612]

Got it! Well, I think this is about the best answer you could give. You could show that there are cases in which you could have a triangle and cases in which you might now. That is an interesting interview question.

Hi Nelson,
I dont understand what u mean by cases? What all cases are there for this question? Could u spare some time and elaborate?

I meant different possibilities, such as what I posted above:

For example, if I have a length of rope 10.
I can cut it into 1-1-8 (no triangle)
Or 2-3-5 (no triangle)
Or 4-4-2 (triangle)
Or 3-3-4 (triangle)

If I have length of rope 4, I can have
1-1-2 (no triangle)
That's it assuming all the lengths are integers. Thus, I don't see how you could figure this probability without at a minimum knowing the length of rope.