Two Points in a Square
Main Concepts
Multiple Integration
Excel / Numbers spreadsheet
Duration
30 minutes in class + more if we do the extensions
Summary of Activity
Students are asked to create a Numbers spreadsheet (or Excel spreadsheet) using a few functions to approximate the average distance between two random points in a square. We then watch the video by MindYourDecisions on youtube that shows the calculus to solve the problem.
Notes and Insights
Two extensions are possible. Solve the same problem with two random points in a circle. It is more complicated to decide on what a random point is. Secondly students are invited to read about the Bertrand paradox.