Math Problem Statement

If two dice, each having the numbers 1 to 6 on their faces are rolled simultaneously, then what is the probability that the sum obtained on the two dice is less than 5?

Solution

To solve the problem, let’s calculate the probability step by step:

Problem:

We roll two dice, each numbered from 1 to 6. We want to find the probability that the sum of the two dice is less than 5.

Step 1: Total Outcomes

Each die has 6 faces. When rolling two dice, the total number of outcomes is: 6×6=36.6 \times 6 = 36.

Step 2: Favorable Outcomes

We need to find all outcomes where the sum of the two dice is less than 5. The possible sums are 2,3,2, 3, and 44. Let's list the combinations for each sum:

  • Sum = 2: (1, 1) → 1 outcome.
  • Sum = 3: (1, 2), (2, 1) → 2 outcomes.
  • Sum = 4: (1, 3), (2, 2), (3, 1) → 3 outcomes.

Thus, the total number of favorable outcomes is: 1+2+3=6.1 + 2 + 3 = 6.

Step 3: Probability

The probability is the ratio of favorable outcomes to total outcomes: P=Favorable OutcomesTotal Outcomes=636=16.P = \frac{\text{Favorable Outcomes}}{\text{Total Outcomes}} = \frac{6}{36} = \frac{1}{6}.

Final Answer:

The probability that the sum of the two dice is less than 5 is: 16\boxed{\frac{1}{6}}

Would you like further details or explanations on this?

Related Questions:

  1. What is the probability that the sum of the dice is greater than 9?
  2. How many outcomes give a sum of exactly 7?
  3. What is the probability of rolling a double (e.g., (1, 1), (2, 2), etc.)?
  4. How can this calculation be extended to three dice?
  5. How would the result change if the dice were biased?

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Probability
Counting Outcomes

Formulas

Probability = Favorable Outcomes / Total Outcomes

Theorems

Basic Probability Principles

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 7-9