1994 AHSME Problems/Problem 30

Problem

When $n$ standard 6-sided dice are rolled, the probability of obtaining a sum of 1994 is greater than zero and is the same as the probability of obtaining a sum of $S$ . The smallest possible value of $S$ is

$\textbf{(A)}\ 333 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 335 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 337 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 339 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 341$

Solution

Since the sum of dice is 1994, there are at least 333 dice. Now consider the following numbers $\underbrace { 6+6+ \dots + 6 }_{ 332 } + 2$ and $\underbrace { 1+1+ \dots + 1 }_{ 332 } + 5$ . They both have the same probability of occurring because 6 negated by switching it to 1 and 2 is negated by switching it to 5. So we have obtained an upper bound over $S$ which is $1 \cdot 332 + 5 = 337$ . Only smaller numbers to consider are $1 \cdot 332 + 4$ , $1 \cdot 332 + 3$ , $1 \cdot 332 + 2$ , $1 \cdot 332 + 1$ . As it turns out, none of these work.

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1994 AHSME Problems/Problem 30

Problem

Solution