SOLUTION: A pair of dice is rolled. What are the odds of rolling a sum of 5? The odds of rolling a sum of 5 are [ ] to [ ]. I have tried this problem a few times and can't seem to get i

Algebra ->  Probability-and-statistics -> SOLUTION: A pair of dice is rolled. What are the odds of rolling a sum of 5? The odds of rolling a sum of 5 are [ ] to [ ]. I have tried this problem a few times and can't seem to get i      Log On


   



Question 1063314: A pair of dice is rolled. What are the odds of rolling a sum of 5?
The odds of rolling a sum of 5 are [ ] to [ ].
I have tried this problem a few times and can't seem to get it. I know there are 6 numbers in a dice and the odds of getting a sum of 5 would be 3 to 6. I feel like I'm wrong. HELP PLEASE.

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Think of rolling the 2 dice, but one is colored red
and the other is colored blue. Then look at the red
die first, and then the blue one. The different ways
you can get 5 are:
-----------------------
red - - - blue
1 - - - - 4
4 - - - - 1
2 - - - - 3
3 - - - - 2
-------------------
This is 4 different ways to get a total of 5
How many possible different outomes can
you get with 2 dice?
Each of the 6 numbers on the red die can be
matched with 6 numbers on the blue die, so I have:
+6%2A6+=+36+ possible outcomes
----------------------------------
Odds are like probability, only different
The probability of getting a 5 is:
+4%2F36+ which is [ what you want ] / [ everything possible ]
----------------------------------
The odds are:
+4+ to +32+, which is [ what you want ] to [ what is left ]
Divide both sides by +4+, and you get:
+1+ to +8+ in favor, or
+8+ to +1+ against
-------------------------
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