Probability of No Encounter Between Crawling Ants on a Polyhedron

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The discussion focuses on the probability of ants starting at the vertices of a triangle or polyhedron and moving along edges without encountering each other. For a triangle, the probability of no encounters is calculated as 2/8, simplifying to 1/4, as encounters occur in six out of eight possible movement combinations. The conversation then shifts to determining similar probabilities for ants on various polyhedra, emphasizing the need for clear examples of these shapes. Participants express frustration over the lack of specific polyhedra mentioned in the problem. The thread highlights the mathematical challenge of calculating encounter probabilities in multi-dimensional shapes.
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Suppose there are ants at each vertex of a triangle and they all simultaneously crawl along a side of the triangle to the next vertex. The probability that no two ants will encounter one another is 2/8, since the only two cases in which no encounter occurs is when all the ants go left, i.e., clockwise -- LLL -- or all go right, i.e., counterclockwise -- RRR. In the six other cases -- RRL, RLR, RLL, LLR, LRL, and LRR -- an encounter occurs. Now suppose that, analogously, there is an ant at each vertex of a polyhedron and that the ants all simultaneously move along one edge of the polyhedron to the next vertex, each ant choosing its path randomly. For each of the following polyhedra, what is the probability that no two ants will encounter one another, either en route or at the next vertex? Express your answer reduced to lowest common denominators, e.g., 2/8 must be reduced to 1/4.
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"Express your answer reduced to lowest common denominators, e.g., 2/8 must be reduced to 1/4" sounds like homework...
 
Where are the polyhedra?
 
EnumaElish said:
"Express your answer reduced to lowest common denominators, e.g., 2/8 must be reduced to 1/4" sounds like homework...


taka ra man ka... ingna lang gud nga dili ka ka answer,, ayaw sige ug pataka ug storya...
 
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