Math Problem Statement

A pair of fair six-sided dice are rolled. What is the probability of rolling a sum less than 4?

Solution

To determine the probability of rolling a sum less than 4 with two fair six-sided dice, let's follow these steps:

Step 1: Possible outcomes

Each die has 6 faces, so there are a total of:

6×6=36 possible outcomes.6 \times 6 = 36 \text{ possible outcomes}.

Step 2: Identify favorable outcomes

The sum of two dice can be less than 4 if the results of the dice sum to 2 or 3. Let's list the favorable outcomes:

  • Sum of 2: (1, 1)
  • Sum of 3: (1, 2), (2, 1)

Thus, the favorable outcomes are:

(1,1),(1,2),(2,1)(1, 1), (1, 2), (2, 1)

There are 3 favorable outcomes.

Step 3: Calculate the probability

The probability of an event is the ratio of favorable outcomes to the total possible outcomes. Therefore, the probability of rolling a sum less than 4 is:

favorable outcomestotal outcomes=336=112.\frac{\text{favorable outcomes}}{\text{total outcomes}} = \frac{3}{36} = \frac{1}{12}.

Thus, the probability of rolling a sum less than 4 is 112\frac{1}{12}.

Would you like more details or have any questions?

Here are 5 related questions:

  1. What is the probability of rolling a sum greater than 10 with two dice?
  2. What is the probability of rolling a sum of exactly 7 with two dice?
  3. How many outcomes result in a sum of 5 when rolling two six-sided dice?
  4. What is the probability of rolling doubles with two dice?
  5. If one die is fixed to show a 3, what is the probability of rolling a total less than 8?

Tip: When solving probability problems, it helps to carefully list all possible outcomes and systematically identify favorable ones.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Probability
Combinatorics

Formulas

Probability = (favorable outcomes) / (total outcomes)

Theorems

Basic Probability Theory

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 6-8