(New page: The best way to look at this problem is not to search for "the probability that he rolled a 6", but instead find the probability that he did NOT roll a 6. Also ignore who is rolling, only ...)
 
 
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The chance to not roll a 6 on turn 1 is 5/6.
 
The chance to not roll a 6 on turn 1 is 5/6.
The chance to not roll a 6 on turn 2 (viewed independently)is 5/6. However the chance that a 6 was not rolled twice in a row is (5/6)(5/6) = 25/36
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The chance to not roll a 6 on turn 2 (viewed independently)is 5/6. However the chance that a 6 was not rolled for two turns in a row is (5/6)(5/6) = 25/36
The chance to not roll a 6 on turn 3 (viewed independently) is 5/6. However the chance that a 6 was not rolled 3 times in a row is  
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The chance to not roll a 6 on turn 3 (viewed independently) is 5/6. However the chance that a 6 was not rolled for 3 turns in a row is  
 
(5/6)(5/6)(5/6) = 125/216
 
(5/6)(5/6)(5/6) = 125/216
 
Finally, for the 4th turn (which would be Bob's 2nd turn), the chance to not roll a 6 (independently) is 5/6, but the chance to not roll a 6 for the 4th time in a row is (5/6)(5/6)(5/6)(5/6) = 625/1296.
 
Finally, for the 4th turn (which would be Bob's 2nd turn), the chance to not roll a 6 (independently) is 5/6, but the chance to not roll a 6 for the 4th time in a row is (5/6)(5/6)(5/6)(5/6) = 625/1296.
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Thanks for the riddle :)
 
Thanks for the riddle :)
 
--[[User:Msstaffo|Msstaffo]] 13:26, 12 February 2009 (UTC)
 
--[[User:Msstaffo|Msstaffo]] 13:26, 12 February 2009 (UTC)
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You are very close.  Remember, we're looking for the probability in a particular universe where Bob wins.  You've calculated the probablility of Bob winning on his second turn...not the probability of him winning on his second turn given that he has won.
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-Mark

Latest revision as of 01:25, 18 February 2009

The best way to look at this problem is not to search for "the probability that he rolled a 6", but instead find the probability that he did NOT roll a 6. Also ignore who is rolling, only look at what # turn it is. EX: Sue (Turn 1) then Bob (Turn 2) then Sue (Turn 3) etc.

The chance to not roll a 6 on turn 1 is 5/6. The chance to not roll a 6 on turn 2 (viewed independently)is 5/6. However the chance that a 6 was not rolled for two turns in a row is (5/6)(5/6) = 25/36 The chance to not roll a 6 on turn 3 (viewed independently) is 5/6. However the chance that a 6 was not rolled for 3 turns in a row is (5/6)(5/6)(5/6) = 125/216 Finally, for the 4th turn (which would be Bob's 2nd turn), the chance to not roll a 6 (independently) is 5/6, but the chance to not roll a 6 for the 4th time in a row is (5/6)(5/6)(5/6)(5/6) = 625/1296.


SO: on Bob's 2nd turn, the chance to NOT roll a 6 is 625/1296 That means that the chance for him to end the game on that turn is the remaining 671/1296 (which is about 51.8%).


Thanks for the riddle :) --Msstaffo 13:26, 12 February 2009 (UTC)

You are very close. Remember, we're looking for the probability in a particular universe where Bob wins. You've calculated the probablility of Bob winning on his second turn...not the probability of him winning on his second turn given that he has won. -Mark

Alumni Liaison

Ph.D. on Applied Mathematics in Aug 2007. Involved on applications of image super-resolution to electron microscopy

Francisco Blanco-Silva