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PROJECT EULER · #0564

Maximal Polygons

Statement only · UnsolvedOriginal problem ↗

A line segment of length 2n3 is randomly split into n segments of integer length (n3). In the sequence given by this split, the segments are then used as consecutive sides of a convex n-polygon, formed in such a way that its area is maximal. All of the (2n4n1) possibilities for splitting up the initial line segment occur with the same probability.

Let E(n) be the expected value of the area that is obtained by this procedure.
For example, for n=3 the only possible split of the line segment of length 3 results in three line segments with length 1, that form an equilateral triangle with an area of 143. Therefore E(3)=0.433013, rounded to 6 decimal places.
For n=4 you can find 4 different possible splits, each of which is composed of three line segments with length 1 and one line segment with length 2. All of these splits lead to the same maximal quadrilateral with an area of 343, thus E(4)=1.299038, rounded to 6 decimal places.

Let S(k)=n=3kE(n).
For example, S(3)=0.433013, S(4)=1.732051, S(5)=4.604767 and S(10)=66.955511, rounded to 6 decimal places each.

Find S(50), rounded to 6 decimal places.

Write-up coming later

The complete problem is available here. An approach, code, and answer will be added later.