# Simple geometric problem - intersection between segments

Consider a 3D volume $V$. $V$ contains all and only all the points $\langle x,y,z \rangle$ such that $0 \leq x,y \leq \sqrt{n}$ and $0 \leq z \leq 2\sqrt{n}$.

Consider a segment $A$ and a segment $B$ lying inside $V$. All the points of $A$ have z-coordinate greater than $0$ and less than $\sqrt{n}$; all the points $B$ have z-coordinate greater than $\sqrt{n}$ and less than $2\sqrt{n}$. The only additional constraint on $A$ and $B$ is that their length is $\sqrt{n}$.

I should evaluate the probability that a segment $C$ of length $\sqrt{n}$, lying inside $V$ and with an end point lying in the intersection between $V$ and the plane of points with $z=0$, intersects both $A$ and $B$.

The probability is roughly $1/n$ -- but what are the additional constraints required for $A$, $B$ and $C$?

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Obviously, we can scale the whole thing by $\frac1{\sqrt n}$, which gets rid of $n$ altogether. –  Hagen von Eitzen Feb 9 '13 at 8:18
I'm not sure I understand. Usually two line segments in a volume intersect with probability zero. // Also, if $C$ has length $\sqrt n$ and one endpoint at $z=0$, it cannot possibly reach $z>\sqrt n$ to intersect $B$. –  Rahul Feb 9 '13 at 8:22