Gaussian Technologies Department of Mathematics Calculus related puzzles Buffon's needle problem A needle 2 inches long is dropped at random onto a floor made with wooden boards 2 inches in width placed side by side. What is the probability that the needle falls across one of the cracks? This puzzle certainly deals with the aspect of probability, something many of you should be familiar with Let's have a small discussion about it say you have to close your eyes and point to one of the sections of the wheel below Your chances of pointing to a black one is Why? simply because there are 4 different sections, or 4 different outcomes and out of those 4, only 1 of them is black. Now, what are your chances on pointing to a black one with the wheel below It is now 3 black sections out of 8 available outcomes. Simply enoug to understand MISCELLANEOUS CALCULUS RELATED PUZZLESGaussian Technologies Department of Mathematics MISCELLANEOUS > CALCULUS RELATED PUZZLES Calculus related puzzles Buffon’s needle problem A needle 2 inches long is dropped at random onto a floor made with wooden boards 2 inches in width, placed side by side. What is the probability that the needle falls across one of the cracks? This puzzle certainly deals with the aspect of probability, something many of you should be familiar with. Let’s have a small discussion about it. Say you have to close your eyes and point to one of the sections of the wheel below. Your chances of pointing to a black one is 1 4 . Why? Simply because there are 4 different sections, or 4 different outcomes and out of those 4, only 1 of them is black. Now, what are your chances on pointing to a black one with the wheel below. It is now 3 8 . 3 black sections out of 8 available outcomes. Simply enough to understand