Difference between revisions of "2014 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 16"

(Solution: *)
(Solution: Added second half of solution, finished)
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We split this problem into 2 cases.
 
We split this problem into 2 cases.
First, we calculate the probability that all four are the same. After the first dice, all the number must be equal to that roll, giving a probability of <math>1 * \dfrac{1}{6} * \dfrac{1}{6} * \dfrac{1}{6} = \dfrac{1}{216}</math>
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Second, we calculate the probability that three are the same and one is different. Adding these up, we get <math>\dfrac{7}{72}</math>, or <math>\boxed{\textbf{(B)}}</math>.
+
First, we calculate the probability that all four are the same. After the first dice, all the number must be equal to that roll, giving a probability of <math>1 * \dfrac{1}{6} * \dfrac{1}{6} * \dfrac{1}{6} = \dfrac{1}{216}</math>.
 +
 
 +
Second, we calculate the probability that three are the same and one is different. After the first dice, the next two must be equal and the third different. There are 4 orders to roll the different dice, giving <math>4 * 1 * \dfrac{1}{6} * \dfrac{1}{6} * \dfrac{5}{6} = \dfrac{5}{54}</math>.
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 +
Adding these up, we get <math>\dfrac{7}{72}</math>, or <math>\boxed{\textbf{(B)}}</math>.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{AMC10 box|year=2014|ab=B|num-b=15|num-a=17}}
 
{{AMC10 box|year=2014|ab=B|num-b=15|num-a=17}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 16:37, 20 February 2014

Problem

Four fair six-sided dice are rolled. What is the probability that at least three of the four dice show the same value?

$\textbf {(A) } \frac{1}{36} \qquad \textbf {(B) } \frac{7}{72} \qquad \textbf {(C) } \frac{1}{9} \qquad \textbf {(D) } \frac{5}{36} \qquad \textbf {(E) } \frac{1}{6}$

Solution

We split this problem into 2 cases.

First, we calculate the probability that all four are the same. After the first dice, all the number must be equal to that roll, giving a probability of $1 * \dfrac{1}{6} * \dfrac{1}{6} * \dfrac{1}{6} = \dfrac{1}{216}$.

Second, we calculate the probability that three are the same and one is different. After the first dice, the next two must be equal and the third different. There are 4 orders to roll the different dice, giving $4 * 1 * \dfrac{1}{6} * \dfrac{1}{6} * \dfrac{5}{6} = \dfrac{5}{54}$.

Adding these up, we get $\dfrac{7}{72}$, or $\boxed{\textbf{(B)}}$.

See Also

2014 AMC 10B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 15
Followed by
Problem 17
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 AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

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