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You get a stick and break it randomly into three pieces. what is the probability that you can make a triangle using the three pieces? you can assume the break points are chosen completely at random, i.e. if the length of the original stick is 1 unit, and x, y, z are the lengths of the three pieces, then (x, y, z) are uniformly chosen from the set {x, y, z ∈ r^3, x y z = 1, x, y, z ≥ 0}.

User MaNKuR
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Final answer:

To determine the probability of making a triangle by randomly breaking a stick into three pieces, we need to consider the conditions for triangle formation and use geometric probability.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the probability of making a triangle by randomly breaking a stick into three pieces, we need to consider the conditions for triangle formation. According to the triangle inequality theorem, the sum of the lengths of any two sides of a triangle must be greater than the length of the third side. In this case, if x, y, and z are the lengths of the three pieces, they must satisfy the following conditions: x + y > z, y + z > x, and x + z > y.

We can imagine a 1-unit stick that is divided into three pieces at random. Since the break points are chosen completely at random, we can model it as selecting three numbers (x, y, z) uniformly from the set {x, y, z ∈ ℝ³, x * y * z = 1, x, y, z ≥ 0}. To find the probability of making a triangle, we need to determine the probability that the three pieces satisfy the triangle inequality conditions.

We can solve this probability problem using geometric probability. We can interpret the set {x, y, z ∈ ℝ³, x * y * z = 1, x, y, z ≥ 0} as a three-dimensional space with x, y, and z axes. The condition x * y * z = 1 represents a surface in this space. The volume of this surface represents all possible ways to divide the stick. To find the volume that satisfies the triangle inequality conditions, we need to consider the region where x + y > z, y + z > x, and x + z > y. By finding the volume of this region, we can determine the probability of making a triangle with the randomly broken stick.

Calculating this volume and finding the probability may involve advanced mathematical concepts. It would be best to consult a mathematics textbook or an advanced mathematics expert for a precise solution to this problem.

User Sothy Lorn
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