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# Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an

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Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an  [#permalink]

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24 May 2012, 01:31
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65% (hard)

Question Stats:

61% (02:11) correct 39% (02:08) wrong based on 365 sessions

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Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an even sum?

A. 3/4
B. 1/2
C. 2/3
D. 1/4
E. 1/3
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 49496
Re: Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an  [#permalink]

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24 May 2012, 01:52
8
7
Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an even sum?

A. 3/4
B. 1/2
C. 2/3
D. 1/4
E. 1/3

Even sum can be obtained in following cases:
EEEE - one case. Each E can take 3 values (2, 4, or 6), so total for this case is 3^4;
OOOO - one case. Each O can take 3 values (1, 3, or 5), so total for this case is 3^4;
EEOO - $$\frac{4!}{2!2!}=6$$ cases (EOEO, OOEE, ...). Each E can take 3 values (2, 4, or 6) and each O can also take 3 values (1, 3, or 5), so total for this case is 6*3^2*3^2=6*3^4;

Total # of outcomes when throwing 4 dice is 6^4.

$$P=\frac{3^4+3^4+6*3^4}{6^4}=\frac{1}{2}$$.

Even without any math: the probability of getting an even sum when throwing 4 dice is the same as getting an even number on one die, so it must be 1/2.

Similar problem to practice: a-box-contains-100-balls-numbered-from-1-to-100-if-three-b-109279.html

Hope it helps.
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Re: Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an  [#permalink]

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24 May 2012, 02:26
Hi Bunuel,

The shortcut is perfect! Are you aware of any thread where we such approaches are discussed?

Similar solution can be applied to problem like no. of cases A occurs before B in a sequence, no. of cases where A & B are together
In both cases half of the total no. of cases would be the answer. Since, either A comes after B or before B, either A & B are together or separated.

Regards,
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Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 49496
Re: Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an  [#permalink]

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24 May 2012, 02:30
Hi Bunuel,

The shortcut is perfect! Are you aware of any thread where we such approaches are discussed?

Similar solution can be applied to problem like no. of cases A occurs before B in a sequence, no. of cases where A & B are together
In both cases half of the total no. of cases would be the answer. Since, either A comes after B or before B, either A & B are together or separated.

Regards,

DS questions on probability: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=33
PS questions on probability: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=54

Hope it helps.
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Re: Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an  [#permalink]

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06 Feb 2013, 04:14
very hard, I want to follow this post. this is 51/51 level , I think
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Re: Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an  [#permalink]

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27 Feb 2013, 05:06
1
probability for EEEE to happen is

1/2*1/2*1/2*1/2=A

similarly probability for OOOO and OOEE, OEOE,...(there are 6 cases)

total 8 case

add 8 cases we have 8/A=1/2

is the result.
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Re: Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an  [#permalink]

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01 May 2015, 03:02
1
Bunuel wrote:
Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an even sum?

A. 3/4
B. 1/2
C. 2/3
D. 1/4
E. 1/3

Even sum can be obtained in following cases:
EEEE - one case. Each E can take 3 values (2, 4, or 6), so total for this case is 3^4;
OOOO - one case. Each O can take 3 values (1, 3, or 5), so total for this case is 3^4;
EEOO - $$\frac{4!}{2!2!}=6$$ cases (EOEO, OOEE, ...). Each E can take 3 values (2, 4, or 6) and each O can also take 3 values (1, 3, or 5), so total for this case is 6*3^2*3^2=6*3^4;

Total # of outcomes when throwing 4 dice is 6^4.

$$P=\frac{3^4+3^4+6*3^4}{6^4}=\frac{1}{2}$$.

Even without any math: the probability of getting an even sum when throwing 4 dice is the same as getting an even number on one die, so it must be 1/2.

Similar problem to practice: a-box-contains-100-balls-numbered-from-1-to-100-if-three-b-109279.html

Hope it helps.

I can not say any word for this excellency
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Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an  [#permalink]

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01 Jun 2017, 00:11
Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an even sum?

A. 3/4
B. 1/2
C. 2/3
D. 1/4
E. 1/3

1.We can throw either an even or an odd with a die and so there are 16 possibilities .
2. No even and 4 odd, the sum of 4 odds being even and occurring once
3. 1 even and 3 odd, the sum being odd and occurring 4 times
4. 2 even and 2 odd the sum being even and occurring 6 times
5. 3 even and 1 odd the sum being odd and occurring 4 times
6. 4 even and no odd the sum being even and occurring once
7. 8 times , the sum is even and 8 times the sum is odd for a probability of 1/2.
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Re: Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an  [#permalink]

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09 Jun 2017, 08:13
Bunuel wrote:
Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an even sum?

A. 3/4
B. 1/2
C. 2/3
D. 1/4
E. 1/3

Even sum can be obtained in following cases:
EEEE - one case. Each E can take 3 values (2, 4, or 6), so total for this case is 3^4;
OOOO - one case. Each O can take 3 values (1, 3, or 5), so total for this case is 3^4;
EEOO - $$\frac{4!}{2!2!}=6$$ cases (EOEO, OOEE, ...). Each E can take 3 values (2, 4, or 6) and each O can also take 3 values (1, 3, or 5), so total for this case is 6*3^2*3^2=6*3^4;

Total # of outcomes when throwing 4 dice is 6^4.

$$P=\frac{3^4+3^4+6*3^4}{6^4}=\frac{1}{2}$$.

Even without any math: the probability of getting an even sum when throwing 4 dice is the same as getting an even number on one die, so it must be 1/2.

Similar problem to practice: http://gmatclub.com/forum/a-box-contain ... 09279.html

Hope it helps.

Brunnel, can you help me understand how you got 4!/2!2! for EEOO cases? I understand to arrange we need to do 4!, but can you break the 2!2! part here? I intutively understand its because of the pair of O and E, but can you explain it further?
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Re: Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an  [#permalink]

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10 Jun 2017, 09:33
SOUMYAJIT_ wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an even sum?

A. 3/4
B. 1/2
C. 2/3
D. 1/4
E. 1/3

Even sum can be obtained in following cases:
EEEE - one case. Each E can take 3 values (2, 4, or 6), so total for this case is 3^4;
OOOO - one case. Each O can take 3 values (1, 3, or 5), so total for this case is 3^4;
EEOO - $$\frac{4!}{2!2!}=6$$ cases (EOEO, OOEE, ...). Each E can take 3 values (2, 4, or 6) and each O can also take 3 values (1, 3, or 5), so total for this case is 6*3^2*3^2=6*3^4;

Total # of outcomes when throwing 4 dice is 6^4.

$$P=\frac{3^4+3^4+6*3^4}{6^4}=\frac{1}{2}$$.

Even without any math: the probability of getting an even sum when throwing 4 dice is the same as getting an even number on one die, so it must be 1/2.

Similar problem to practice: http://gmatclub.com/forum/a-box-contain ... 09279.html

Hope it helps.

Brunnel, can you help me understand how you got 4!/2!2! for EEOO cases? I understand to arrange we need to do 4!, but can you break the 2!2! part here? I intutively understand its because of the pair of O and E, but can you explain it further?

THEORY:

Permutations of $$n$$ things of which $$P_1$$ are alike of one kind, $$P_2$$ are alike of second kind, $$P_3$$ are alike of third kind ... $$P_r$$ are alike of $$r_{th}$$ kind such that: $$P_1+P_2+P_3+..+P_r=n$$ is:

$$\frac{n!}{P_1!*P_2!*P_3!*...*P_r!}$$.

For example number of permutation of the letters of the word "gmatclub" is 8! as there are 8 DISTINCT letters in this word.

Number of permutation of the letters of the word "google" is $$\frac{6!}{2!2!}$$, as there are 6 letters out of which "g" and "o" are represented twice.

Number of permutation of 9 balls out of which 4 are red, 3 green and 2 blue, would be $$\frac{9!}{4!3!2!}$$.

So, the number of arrangements of four letters EEOO is 4!/(2!2!).

Hope it's clear.
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Re: Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an  [#permalink]

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25 Jun 2017, 11:22
Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an even sum?

A. 3/4
B. 1/2
C. 2/3
D. 1/4
E. 1/3

What can a sum of two positive integers (or for that matter any integers) be ?
It can only be EVEN or ODD..
there is no other possibility ...(note that I said INTEGERS - not just any numbers)

So, a dice when rolled, can only produce integers ..
So summing the results of any number of dice can only produce an ODD or an EVEN output.

Hence, there are 50% chance that our output will be EVEN (and 50% chances that output will be ODD)
So, Option B 1/2
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Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an  [#permalink]

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03 Jul 2017, 01:51
Bunuel wrote:
Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an even sum?

A. 3/4
B. 1/2
C. 2/3
D. 1/4
E. 1/3

Even sum can be obtained in following cases:
EEEE - one case. Each E can take 3 values (2, 4, or 6), so total for this case is 3^4;
OOOO - one case. Each O can take 3 values (1, 3, or 5), so total for this case is 3^4;
EEOO - $$\frac{4!}{2!2!}=6$$ cases (EOEO, OOEE, ...). Each E can take 3 values (2, 4, or 6) and each O can also take 3 values (1, 3, or 5), so total for this case is 6*3^2*3^2=6*3^4;

Total # of outcomes when throwing 4 dice is 6^4.

$$P=\frac{3^4+3^4+6*3^4}{6^4}=\frac{1}{2}$$.

Even without any math: the probability of getting an even sum when throwing 4 dice is the same as getting an even number on one die, so it must be 1/2.

Similar problem to practice: http://gmatclub.com/forum/a-box-contain ... 09279.html

Hope it helps.

Hi Bunuel, Please help me with the concept that you have used in the second solution. You say that the probability will be 1/2 because the sum will either be even or be odd. 1/2 means that each of these events are equally likely. While solving Combinations problems, I have seen a similar approach from you in some questions. My question is, how can one infer whether the cases possible are equally likely? This will help save valuable time in exam once understood. Thank you for your help
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Re: Gambling with 4 dice, what is the probability of getting an  [#permalink]

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08 Jul 2018, 07:20
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