Math Problem Statement

Two regular six-sided dice are tossed. Compute the probability of not rolling a sum of 4

Solution

To find the probability of not rolling a sum of 4 when two six-sided dice are tossed, let's go through the steps:

  1. Identify all possible outcomes: Each die has 6 faces, so there are 6×6=366 \times 6 = 36 total possible outcomes when rolling two dice.

  2. Count the successful outcomes for a sum of 4:

    • The pairs that result in a sum of 4 are: (1,3),(2,2),(1,3), (2,2), and (3,1)(3,1).
    • There are 3 outcomes where the sum is 4.
  3. Compute the probability of rolling a sum of 4: P(sum of 4)=Number of successful outcomesTotal outcomes=336=112P(\text{sum of 4}) = \frac{\text{Number of successful outcomes}}{\text{Total outcomes}} = \frac{3}{36} = \frac{1}{12}

  4. Compute the probability of NOT rolling a sum of 4: P(not sum of 4)=1P(sum of 4)=1112=1112P(\text{not sum of 4}) = 1 - P(\text{sum of 4}) = 1 - \frac{1}{12} = \frac{11}{12}

So, the probability of not rolling a sum of 4 is 1112\frac{11}{12}.

Would you like further clarification on this process?

Here are five additional questions related to this topic for further exploration:

  1. What is the probability of rolling a sum of 7 with two six-sided dice?
  2. How would the probability change if three six-sided dice are used and a sum of 4 is considered?
  3. Can you determine the probability of rolling an even sum with two six-sided dice?
  4. What is the probability of rolling a sum less than 5 with two six-sided dice?
  5. How would you calculate the probability of rolling a sum that is a prime number?

Tip: Remember that for probability calculations, breaking down possible outcomes into smaller subsets can simplify the counting process.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Probability
Sample Space Analysis

Formulas

Probability of an event = Number of favorable outcomes / Total possible outcomes
Complement Rule: P(not A) = 1 - P(A)

Theorems

Complement Rule in Probability

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 6-8