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by GMATGuruNY » Wed May 23, 2012 11:34 am
A cylindrical tank has a base with a circumference of 4(√(�√3)) meters and an equilateral triangle painted on the interior side of the base. A grain of sand is dropped into the tank, and has an equal probability of landing on any particular point on the base. If the probability of the grain of sand landing on the portion of the base outside the triangle is 3/4, what is the length of a side of the triangle?

a. root (2 (root 6))
b. (root 6 (root 6))/2
c. root (2 root 3)
d. root 3
e. 2
Circumference of the base:
2�r = 4√(�√3)
r = 4√(�√3) / 2�
= 2√(�√3) / �.

Area of the base:
�r² = �* [2√(�√3) / �]²
= � * 4�√3 / �²
= 4√3.

Area of the triangle:
Since P(outside triangle) = 3/4, P(triangle) = 1/4.
Thus, the area of the triangle = 1/4(circle area) = (1/4) * 4√3 = √3.
The formula for the area of an equilateral triangle = (s²√3)/4.
Thus:
(s²√3)/4 = √3
s² = 4
s=2.

The correct answer is E.
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by coolhabhi » Wed May 23, 2012 11:38 am
GmatKiss: You have already posted the question here and the answer has also been provided right.

Please refer:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/cylindrical- ... tml#473639

BTW GMATGuruNY's answer is also available for you.

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by GmatKiss » Wed May 23, 2012 12:09 pm
coolhabhi wrote:GmatKiss: You have already posted the question here and the answer has also been provided right.

Please refer:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/cylindrical- ... tml#473639

BTW GMATGuruNY's answer is also available for you.
Oh is it ? Well, great piece of information, :)
You never know if you had posted a question or not!; at least when your posts go above a 1000 ;)

Glad that you use the search box more than i do :)
Wonder if you could post some new question in the forum.

Regards,
GK