A stone is thrown into a circular pond of radius 1 meter. Suppose the stone falls uniformly at random on the area of the pond. What will be the expected distance of the stone from the center of the pond?

Options are:
A. 1/3
B. 1/2
C. 2/3
D. #1/2^(1/2) #

1 Answer
Jun 6, 2018

Option: C

Explanation:

#A(r) = pi r^2, qquad dA(r) = 2 pi r \ dr#

By definition of the PDF #mathbb P(r)#:

#mathbb P(r) * dr = P(r lt X lt r + dr) #

#= (dA)/(pi * 1^2) = 2 r dr implies mathbb P(r) = 2 r#

Check:

  • #int_0^1 mathbb P \ dr = 1#

Expected value of #r#:

#langle r rangle = int_0^1 \ r \ mathbb P \ dr #

# = 2 int_0^1 r^2 \ dr = 2/3#