Point \(B\) is a distance \(d\) due south of point \(A\) on a horizontal plane. Particle \(P\) is at rest at \(B\) at \(t=0\), when it begins to move with constant acceleration \(a\) in a straight line with fixed bearing~\(\beta\,\). Particle \(Q\) is projected from point \(A\) at \(t=0\) and moves in a straight line with constant speed \(v\,\). Show that if the direction of projection of \(Q\) can be chosen so that \(Q\) strikes \(P\), then \[ v^2 \ge ad \l 1 - \cos \beta \r\;. \] Show further that if \(v^2 >ad(1-\cos\beta)\) then the direction of projection of \(Q\) can be chosen so that \(Q\) strikes \(P\) before \(P\) has moved a distance \(d\,\).
Brief interruptions to my work occur on average every ten minutes and the number of interruptions in any given time period has a Poisson distribution. Given that an interruption has just occurred, find the probability that I will have less than \(t\) minutes to work before the next interruption. If the random variable \(T\) is the time I have to work before the next interruption, find the probability density function of \(T\,\). I need an uninterrupted half hour to finish an important paper. Show that the expected number of interruptions before my first uninterrupted period of half an hour or more is \(\e^3-1\). Find also the expected length of time between interruptions that are less than half an hour apart. Hence write down the expected wait before my first uninterrupted period of half an hour or more.
In a rabbit warren, underground chambers \(A, B, C\) and \(D\) are at the vertices of a square, and burrows join \(A\) to \(B\), \ \(B\) to \(C\), \ \(C\) to \(D\) and \(D\) to \(A\). Each of the chambers also has a tunnel to the surface. A rabbit finding itself in any chamber runs along one of the two burrows to a neighbouring chamber, or leaves the burrow through the tunnel to the surface. Each of these three possibilities is equally likely. Let \(p_A\,\), \(p_B\,\), \(p_C\) and \(p_D\) be the probabilities of a rabbit leaving the burrow through the tunnel from chamber \(A\), given that it is currently in chamber \(A, B, C\) or \(D\), respectively.
Write down the probability generating function for the score on a standard, fair six-faced die whose faces are labelled \(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6\). Hence show that the probability generating function for the sum of the scores on two standard, fair six-faced dice, rolled independently, can be written as \[ \frac1{36} t^2 \l 1 + t \r^2 \l 1 - t + t^2 \r^2 \l 1 + t + t^2 \r^2 \;. \] Write down, in factorised form, the probability generating functions for the scores on two fair six-faced dice whose faces are labelled with the numbers \(1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4\) and \(1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8,\) and hence show that when these dice are rolled independently, the probability of any given sum of the scores is the same as for the two standard fair six-faced dice. Standard, fair four-faced dice are tetrahedra whose faces are labelled \(1, 2, 3, 4,\) the score being taken from the face which is not visible after throwing, and each score being equally likely. Find all the ways in which two fair four-faced dice can have their faces labelled with positive integers if the probability of any given sum of the scores is to be the same as for the two standard fair four-faced dice.