SOLUTION: If you roll a die 60 times what's the probability of landing on a 1 or a 6? How do I explain to a fifth grader how to find the answer. I also need that as a percent and a fraction.

Algebra ->  Probability-and-statistics -> SOLUTION: If you roll a die 60 times what's the probability of landing on a 1 or a 6? How do I explain to a fifth grader how to find the answer. I also need that as a percent and a fraction.      Log On


   



Question 584800: If you roll a die 60 times what's the probability of landing on a 1 or a 6? How do I explain to a fifth grader how to find the answer. I also need that as a percent and a fraction.
Answer by scott8148(6628) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
a 1 or a 6 are 1/3 of the 6 faces of a die, so the probability of NOT getting one or the other, on any given roll, is 2/3

since each roll is a separate (independent) event
___the probability of NOT getting a 1 or 6 on 60 rolls is 2/3 times itself, 60 times, (2/3)^60 -- a very small number

since an event HAS TO either happen or not happen, the sum of the two probabilities is 1
___ so the probability of 1 or 6 in 60 rolls is ___ 1 - (2/3)^60

this makes sense because it is difficult to imagine rolling a fair die 60 times without getting a 1 or 6


1 - [(2/3)^60] = 1 - 2.72x10^-11 = 1 - 0.0000000000272 = 0.9999999999728

it would be more than a thousand times easier to win a Powerball jackpot