SOLUTION: choose a point randomly from the unit square.Let X denote the distance of the chosen point from the closest side of the square.find the means and standard dieviation of X

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Question 462754: choose a point randomly from the unit square.Let X denote the distance of the chosen point from the closest side of the square.find the means and standard dieviation of X
Answer by robertb(5830) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The set of all points at a certain distance x from an edge of the square, where 0+%3C=+x+%3C=+1%2F2, can be thought of as the area bordering the square of thickness x (from the inside of the square, not on the outside). Then the area of the inner square is %281-2x%29%5E2, and the area around the square (which is the area we wanted) is 1+-+%281-2x%29%5E2+=+4x+-+4x%5E2.
The probability that a point is LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO x units from an edge is given by
F%28x%29+=+P%28X+%3C=+x%29+=+4x+-+4x%5E2, where 0+%3C=+x+%3C=+1%2F2.
This the cdf. To get the pdf f(x), take the derivative of F(x), so
f(x) = 4 - 8x, where, 0+%3C=+x+%3C=+1%2F2. (Check quickly that indeed this is a valid pdf by integration from 0 to 1/2.)
Now


Also,
==> sigma%5E2+=+E%28X%5E2%29+-+mu%5E2+=+1%2F24+-+1%2F36+=+1%2F72
==> sigma+=+1%2F%286sqrt%282%29%29