SOLUTION: A four sided die is rolled. If the outcome is "1" or "2", you roll once more; otherwise you stop. What is the probability that the sum of rolls is >= 4?

Algebra.Com
Question 1094875: A four sided die is rolled. If the outcome is "1" or "2", you roll once more; otherwise you stop. What is the probability that the sum of rolls is >= 4?
Found 3 solutions by KMST, Edwin McCravy, AnlytcPhil:
Answer by KMST(5328)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
For each roll, the probability of the outcome being "1" or "2" is
because there are faces in a 4-sided die,
and presumable exactly of those have the numbers "1" or "2" on them.

The probability of rolling or more times
is the probability of getting "1" or "2" for the first rolls.
That is

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20065)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Answer by AnlytcPhil(1810)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I'm thinking that's wrong and that you should make a probability 
tree diagram of all possible outcomes, with the probability of 
going along each branch (line) written on the branch:



The successful outcomes are boxed in red.

The probability of getting the highest highlighted 4 on the 
right is to go along the branch from START to 1 (roll 1 first),
with probability 1/4, and then go along the branch from 1 to 
the 4 (roll 4 second), with another probability of 1/4.  So
the probability of getting the 4 by rolling a 1 first and then
a 4, is gotten by multiplying the 1/4 to go from START to 1, times
the 1/4 to go from the 1 to the 4. It is similar for the other 
outcomes on the far right

So 

the probability of the upper highlighted 4 is (1/4)(1/4) = 1/16.
the probability of the upper highlighted 5 is (1/4)(1/4) = 1/16.
the probability of the other highlighted 4 is (1/4)(1/4) = 1/16.
the probability of the other highlighted 5 is (1/4)(1/4) = 1/16.
the probability of the highlighted 6 is (1/4)(1/4) = 1/16.

plus

the probability of the highlighted 4 on the bottom, the case where
a 4 was rolled first and then you stopped is 1/4, so the desired
probability is the sum of all those probabilities:

1/16 + 1/16 + 1/16 + 1/6 + 1/16 + 1/4 = 9/16.

Edwin


RELATED QUESTIONS

Suppose you roll a special 23-sided die. What is the probability that the number rolled... (answered by Alan3354)
Suppose you roll a special 26-sided die. What is the probability that the number rolled... (answered by ikleyn)
When you roll a six-sided die 20 times and role a 2 only once, the experimental... (answered by Solver92311)
A coin is flipped twice... 1.What is the probability of getting less than 1 tail?... (answered by Fombitz)
If you roll two six-sided dice, what is the probability that at least one die shows a 1,... (answered by Edwin McCravy)
suppose you roll one six sided die and one four sided die. what is the probability that... (answered by stanbon)
You roll a fair 6-sided die 8 times. What is the probability that you will roll at... (answered by ewatrrr)
You roll a fair 6-sided die 8 times. What is the probability that you will roll at... (answered by ewatrrr)
A classmate offers a game for you to play. You roll a single six-sided die, and if the... (answered by ikleyn)