A 5 meter long wire is cut into two pieces

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A 5 meter long wire is cut into two pieces. If the longer piece is then used to form a perimeter of a square, what is the probability that the area of the square will be more than 1 if the original wire was cut at an arbitrary point?

A. 1/6
B. 1/5
C. 3/10
D. 1/3
E. 2/5

OA: E

That the area of the square is more than 1 square meter means that the perimeter of the square is more than 4 meter. Imagine the wire is divided into 5 pieces:
0__1__2__3__4__5

I see that if we cut the wire at any point from 0 to 1 or any point from 4 to 5, we will have a long wire whose perimeter is more than 4 meter.
If we cut the wire at any point from 1 to 4, we get a long wire whose perimeter is less than 4 meter.

Undoubtedly, we have 3 choices if we cut the wire: from 0 to 1, from 1 to 4, and from 4 to 5. Following this reasoning, I think the probability that the area of the square will be more than 1 if the original wire was cut at an arbitrary point should be 2/3.

Please explain what is wrong with my explanation?
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by [email protected] » Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:37 pm
Hi manhhiep2509,

Your logic is mostly correct. However, your "mistake" is in assuming that each "cut point" is equally likely to occur.

You describe the "cut points" as: 0-1, 2-4, and 4-5, but the probability of each cut point is NOT equal, so the answer can't be 2/3.

One of your correct deductions is that cutting at ANY point between 0 to <1 meter OR >4 to 5 meters will create a "long piece" that is greater than 4 (and thus would create a square with an area > 1). Those options account for a little less than 2 meters OUT OF 5 total meters.

Final Answer: [spoiler]2/5 = E[/spoiler]

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by Mathsbuddy » Wed Nov 27, 2013 7:06 am
Length of wire = L = perimeter of square
L/4 = height of the square = h
Area of square = h^2

Working backwards:
if Area = 1, L = 4

So, if Area > 1, L > 4

A=Range of length (> 4) = 5 - 4 = 1
B=Maximum range of length = 5 - 5/2 = 5/2

Probability = A/B = 2/5

Answer E