2019 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 18
Problem 18
The faces of each of two fair dice are numbered , , , , , and . When the two dice are tossed, what is the probability that their sum will be an even number?
Solution 2
We have a die with evens and odds on both dies. For the sum to be even, the rolls must consist of odds or evens.
Ways to roll odds (Case ): The total number of ways to roll odds is , as there are choices for the first odd on the first roll and choices for the second odd on the second roll.
Ways to roll evens (Case ): Similarly, we have ways to roll evens.
Totally, we have ways to roll dies.
Therefore the answer is , or .
~A1337h4x0r
Solution 2 (Complementary Counting)
We count the ways to get an odd. If the sum is odd, then we must have an even and an odd. The probability of an even is , and the probability of an odd is . We have to multiply by because the even and odd can be in any order. This gets us , so the answer is . - juliankuang
Solution 3
To get an even, you must get either 2 odds or 2 evens. The probability of getting 2 odds is . The probability of getting 2 evens is . If you add them together, you get = .~heeeeeeeeheeeee
See Also
2019 AMC 8 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
Preceded by Problem 17 |
Followed by Problem 19 | |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 | ||
All AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions |
The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions.