Skip to content

Random inscribed triangle containing the centre

Question

Three points are placed independently and uniformly on a circle. What is the probability that the triangle they form contains the circle's centre?

Short answer

1/41/4. Fix the first two points. The centre is inside exactly when the third point lands on the arc opposite the minor arc between them, which has the same length as that minor arc. The minor arc is uniform on [0,π][0,\pi] with mean π/2\pi/2, so the probability is π/22π=14\tfrac{\pi/2}{2\pi}=\tfrac14.

Adapted from QuantQuestions.io; question and answer rewritten by SelfMadeQuant.com.

See the hint and the full worked solution in the question bank (free account).

Open the worked solution

Lessons behind this question

Start with a free lesson: Normal Distribution is part of a free topic. Create a free account, no card needed, to read it in full with worked solutions.

Read it free