A floor consists of parallel planks which have a two foot width. A circular disc of

Question

diameter one foot is randomly and uniformly dropped onto the planks. Determine the
probability that the disc does not touch the line between two planks. Determine also
the expected distance from the center of the disc to the closest line between two planks

Answer 1

I think that you have given the distance between the two planks to be 2 feet, but I am not quite sure on this one. I think the technique would be to determine the surface area of that disc that would come in contact with the plank upon reaching the floor. I am quite intrigued by this problem, as I thought you would need more information to solve it, but I would like to wait and see how it can be solved.

Answer 2

Take a look at any web site discussing Buffon's Needle

Answer 3

Here is an actual calculation of the problem.

Yours involves 2 feet gaps, he works at 2 inches per gap.
So it will be the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vws1jvMbs64