Probability – How to Calculate Probability of Two Uniform Random Numbers Being More Than 1/2 Apart

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Two numbers are chosen randomly and independently from the unit interval $(0,1)$.
What is the probability that they differ by more than $\frac{1}{2}$?
Hint: Think of the $2$ numbers chosen as coordinates in the Cartesian plane. Draw a square with vertices at $(0,0)$,$(1,0)$,$(1,1)$, and $(0,1)$. Allowable choices for the $2$ points lie below the line $y=x-\frac{1}{2}$ or the above $y=x+\frac{1}{2}$. Find the combined area of these regions.

I need help on this. I know what $y=x-\frac{1}{2}$ and $y=x+\frac{1}{2}$ looks like but I am not understanding the problem as a whole

Best Answer

The condition that the two number chosen randomly from unit interval$(0, 1)$ is same as the conditions $0\lt x. y \lt 1$ . Let the two numbers be $x, y$ Then the probability is that $|x-y| \gt 0. 5$Draw the graph of the two functions and use geometric probability to get answer.

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You need to just divide the sum of areas of two corner triangles with the square. It is easy to see probability is $0. 25$

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