How do you calculate the probabilities, when you throw two dice, of obtaining (a) a 5, and (b) an 11?

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Answer 1 · 2017-05-01T22:20:19

With two dice there are #6xx6=36# possible outcomes, from 11 12 13... to 56 65 66.

(a)
5 can be throw in the following ways:
14 23 32 41 #=4# ways. Probability: #P(5)=4/36=1/9#

(b)
11 can be trown as follows::
56 65 #=2# ways. Probability #P(11)=2/36=1/18#

Answer 2 · 2017-05-01T22:26:57

# P(5) \ \ = 1/9 #
# P(11) = 1/18 #

There are #36# total possible outcomes when two dice are thrown.

a) If we examine the possible outcomes that result in a total of #5#

So:

# P(5) = 4/36 = 1/9 #

b) If we examine the possible outcomes that result in a total of #11#

Then:

# P(11) = 2/36 = 1/18 #