Home > Algebra > Theoretical and Experimental Probability

A pair of dice is tossed. How do you find the probability of the sum of the numbers being 6 or 11?

Answer 1

Eli Assouline

#P(6" or "11) = 5/36 +2/36 = 7/36#

One method is to draw a grid with rows and columns numbered from 1 to 6.

In the grid fill in the sum of the row and the column.

You will find the following:

There are 36 different outcomes. #(6xx6 = 36)#

There are two ways to make 11: #5+6, and 6+5#

#P(11)= 2/36#

There are five ways to make 6:#1+5, 2+4,3+3, 4+2 and 5+1# #P(6)= 5/36#

If there is a choice of options, add the probabilities.

#P(6" or "11) = 5/36 +2/36 = 7/36#

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Answer 2

Eva Abramson

To find the probability of the sum of the numbers being 6 or 11 when a pair of dice is tossed, you calculate the total number of outcomes where the sum is 6 or 11 and divide it by the total number of possible outcomes when tossing two dice.

There are five ways to get a sum of 6: (1,5), (2,4), (3,3), (4,2), and (5,1). There are two ways to get a sum of 11: (5,6) and (6,5).

So, there are 7 favorable outcomes.

The total number of outcomes when tossing two dice is 6 * 6 = 36.

Therefore, the probability of getting a sum of 6 or 11 is 7/36.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.