# Which is the probability to a random line to be parallel to a specific other line?

In my perception, using the common sense, is less common, or less probable, to a random line be parallel that not to be, because to be parallel a line needs obey a restrictive rule. But anyone can, using simple probability, obtain that result:

specific line (r) = any line in R2 (e.g. y=0)
amount of random lines (u) = infinite (inf)
amount of parallel lines to r (s) = infinite (inf)
probability of s parallel to r = s / u = inf/inf = undefined


But there is another solution? Maybe using geometric probability, integrals or even empirical results?

[EDIT]

OK. I've understood the zero result and the "not impossible" thing. Thanks for answers and references.

But...

• Is my initial perception wrong?
• Is not easier to find a not parallel line instead a parallel?
• Could someone prove or negate it?
• If my perception is not wrong someone can calculate how easier is?
• or maybe I really didnt understand the answers?

[NEW EDIT] So, is it the final answer? - Is my initial perception wrong? - A: No, its correct.

• Is not easier to find a not parallel line instead a parallel?
• A: Yes, it is easier.

• Could someone prove or negate it?

• A: Yes: '''The probability of finding a parallel line is zero, so the probability of finding a non-parallel line is equal to one. Since 1>0, you have the answer to your question. – Rod Carvalho'''

• If my perception is not wrong someone can calculate how easier is?

• A: No, nobody can because it is undefined. (?)

[FINAL EDITION]

Now I realize that the question resumes to: which is the probability of a random real number be equal to a specific other. Thanks for help.

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The probability of finding a parallel line is zero, so the probability of finding a non-parallel line is equal to one. Since $1 > 0$, you have the answer to your question. –  Rod Carvalho Sep 14 '12 at 18:57

Suppose that we have a line $\mathcal{L}_1$ defined by

$$\mathcal{L}_1 := \{ (x,y) \in \mathbb{R}^2 \mid y = a x + b \}$$

and another line, $\mathcal{L}_2$, defined by

$$\mathcal{L}_2 := \{ (x,y) \in \mathbb{R}^2 \mid y = \tan (\theta) x + c \}$$

where $\theta$ is an observation of a random variable $\Theta$ uniformly distributed over $[0, \pi]$. Lines $\mathcal{L}_1$ and $\mathcal{L}_2$ will be parallel if $\theta = \tan^{-1} (a)$. However, since $\Theta$ has a continuous distribution, we have that

$$\mathbb{P} \left( \Theta = \tan^{-1} (a) \right) = 0$$

In other words, the probability that a line whose slope is randomly chosen is parallel to a given line is exactly equal to zero.

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Sorry but I cant understand... if the probability is zero then there is no parallel to $\mathcal{L}_1$ ??? –  olivecoder Sep 14 '12 at 18:17
@olivecoder: There is a parallel line, it's just that the probability of getting it is zero. I recommend Terry Tao's explanation of why an event can have zero probability and not be impossible: profiles.google.com/114134834346472219368/buzz/8om1KWEJ5jZ –  Rod Carvalho Sep 14 '12 at 18:23
Just wondering why can't we say that the probability is almost zero rather than an absolute zero? In a quick reading of the article, the author is providing an explanation based on the accuracy of the number system and not because the event can't ever happen. –  Emmad Kareem Sep 14 '12 at 21:06
@EmmadKareem: OK, suppose that $\Theta$ can take values in a finite subset of $[0, 2\pi]$. Suppose it can take values in $\{ k \frac{2 \pi}{N} \mid k \in \{0,1,\dots,N-1\} \}$. We have a probability mass function where the probability of each angle is $1 / N$. Make $N$ go to infinity, and the probability of each angle goes to zero. If you have an urn with an infinite number of labeled marbles, where each marble is assigned a distinct label in $\mathbb{N}$, the probability of picking a marble labeled "999" is equal to one divided by the cardinality of the naturals, which is zero. –  Rod Carvalho Sep 14 '12 at 21:20
This clear now, thanks. –  Emmad Kareem Sep 14 '12 at 21:27

A line in $\Bbb R^2$ is parallel to another line if and only if their slopes are equal, regardless of their intercept.

The probability that the slope $m$ of a random line is equal to the slope $m_f$ of some fixed line is therefore $P(m = m_f) = 0$, since $m_f$ is continuously distributed.

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Sorry but I cant understand... if the probability is zero then there is no parallel to f line ??? –  olivecoder Sep 14 '12 at 18:17
A probability of zero is not the same thing as an impossible event. For example, take a uniform random variable $u$ continuously distributed in $(0,1)$. What is the probability that $u = .56721$? The answer is $P(u=.56721) = 0$. In fact, the probability of $u$ assuming any value in the interval is zero. However, any sampling of $u$ must come up with a value in the interval, so clearly probability zero does not imply impossibility. –  Arkamis Sep 14 '12 at 18:23

The answer depends on the random distribution accordingto which the lines are produced. But if the probability of a random line being parallel to a given line $L$ is assumed not to depend on $L$ (a resonable symmetry assumption), then the assumption of a positive probability $p>0$ leads to a contradiction: If $p>0$ then there exists a natural number $n$ such that $n>\frac1p$. It is easy to construct $n$ differnt lines $L_1,\ldots, L_n$ through a single point $A$. The probability of a random line $L$ to be parallel to $L_i$ is assumed to be $p$ for all $i$. Since the events $L||L_i$ and $L||L_j$ are mutually exclusive, we obtain that the probability that $L$ is parallel to any of the $L_i$ is $p+p+\ldots+p$ with $n$ summands. This produces a total probability of $np>1$ - contradiction. We conclude that the assumption $p>0$ is wrong, hence $p=0$.

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