Estimation of PI using a Monte Carlo method:
Monte
Carlo methods are often useful for solving problems in physics and
mathematics, which cannot be solved by analytical means.
The goal of
this virtual-lab is to obtain an approximated value of PI, using a Monte
Carlo method. Next, we describe briefly how this method is used to
estimate PI.
Imagine that we are throwing a dart over a square surface
of side 1 m. There is a circle of radius 1 m. inscribed in the square.
Assuming that the probability is uniformly distributed, the probability of
hitting inside the circle is equal to PI/4. Dividing the number of hits by
the number of throws, it is obtained an estimation of PI. We will obtain a
better approximation by increasing the number of throws.
This
virtual-lab allows the user to select the number of throws, with a maximum
of 10000 throws.