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On the probability of forming polygons from a broken stick

Probability 2022-02-03 v1 History and Overview

Abstract

Break a stick at random at n1n-1 points to obtain nn pieces. We give an explicit formula for the probability that every choice of kk segments from this broken stick can form a kk-gon, generalizing similar work. The method we use can be applied to other geometric probability problems involving broken sticks, which are part of a long-standing class of recreational probability problems with several applications to real-world models.

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Cite

@article{arxiv.2107.09604,
  title  = {On the probability of forming polygons from a broken stick},
  author = {William Verreault},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2107.09604},
  year   = {2022}
}

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13 pages