Re: Guessimation of Areas by Monte Carlo Method problem

[Bob Pendleton <bobp@pendleton.com>]

Any "monte carlo" method uses a random algorithm. In your case you need
a way to generate random two dimensional points in some rectangular area
of the plane that contains your triangle. AND, you need a way to test if
a point is inside your triangle or not. You sit in a loop generating
random points and testing them. You count each point and you count the
ones that are inside the triangle. Over time the ratio of those inside
the triangle to the total will be a good approximation of the ratio of
the area of the triangle to the area of the rectangle. If the rectangle
has an area of 100 and you test 1000 points and find that 127 of them
are in the triangle then you know that the area of the triangle is 12.7.

This seems pretty silly when applied to a triangle... But, in real life
there are problems where it is easier to construct the test than to
compute the result directly. There are applications of monte carlo
algorithms to game programming. Just think about rolling dice to decide
whether an arrow "hit" a player or not.

			Bob P.

Mohammed 'DreaMWeaver' KARGAS wrote:
> 
> Hi everyone
> 
> Ive been set a task to program by my computer science teacher to calculate the area of a triangle by guessimation using the monte carlo method.
> 
> Problem is, I dont know what this is or how to do it!! Could you please explain it to me? Id be really grateful!
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