Question

A point is chosen at random within the square in the coordinate plane whose vertices are $(0, 0),$ $(2020, 0),$ $(2020, 2020),$ and $(0, 2020).$ The probability that the point is within $d$ units of a lattice point is $\tfrac12.$ (A point $(x, y)$ is a lattice point if $x$ and $y$ are both integers.) What is $d$ to the nearest tenth?

$0.3$

$0.4$

$0.5$

$0.6$

$0.7$

Solution:

By periodicity it suffices to consider one unit cell with a lattice point at each corner. The region within $d$ of a corner consists of four quarter-disks of radius $d,$ forming one full disk of area $\pi d^2.$

Setting $\pi d^2 = \tfrac12$ gives $d = \sqrt{\dfrac{1}{2\pi}} \approx 0.399.$

To the nearest tenth, $d = 0.4.$

Thus, B is the correct answer.

2020 AMC 12A Problem 16

Solution:

Problem 16 in Other Years