Maximal polygons
Problem 564
A line segment of length is randomly split into segments of integer length (). In the sequence given by this split, the segments are then used as consecutive sides of a convex -polygon, formed in such a way that its area is maximal. All of the possibilities for splitting up the initial line segment occur with the same probability.
Let be the expected value of the area that is obtained by this procedure.
For example, for the only possible split of the line segment of length results in three line segments with length , that form an equilateral triangle with an area of . Therefore , rounded to decimal places.
For you can find different possible splits, each of which is composed of three line segments with length and one line segment with length . All of these splits lead to the same maximal quadrilateral with an area of , thus , rounded to decimal places.
For example, for the only possible split of the line segment of length results in three line segments with length , that form an equilateral triangle with an area of . Therefore , rounded to decimal places.
For you can find different possible splits, each of which is composed of three line segments with length and one line segment with length . All of these splits lead to the same maximal quadrilateral with an area of , thus , rounded to decimal places.
Let .
For example, , , and , rounded to decimal places each.
For example, , , and , rounded to decimal places each.
Find , rounded to decimal places.