MHB Macie's question at Yahoo Answers regarding binomial probability

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The discussion focuses on calculating the probability of rolling 10 or fewer sixes when a die is thrown 60 times using the binomial probability formula. The parameters include n=60 trials and p=1/6 for rolling a six. The total probability for getting between 0 to 10 sixes is calculated by summing the probabilities for each outcome from 0 to 10. The final computed probability is approximately 0.5834. This calculation can be efficiently performed using tools like Wolfram|Alpha.
MarkFL
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Here is the question:

A die is thrown 60 times. What is the probability of 10 or fewer "sixes" ?

I have posted a link there to this topic so the OP can see my work.
 
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Hello Macie,

We want to use the binomial probability formula:

$$P(x)={n \choose x}p^x(1-p)^{n-x}$$

where:

$$0\le x\le10\in\mathbb{Z}$$

$$n=60$$ is the number of trials

$$p=\frac{1}{6}$$ is the probability of rolling a six in any trial.

We want to find the probability that we get zero 6's or 1 6 or 2 6's or...10 6's. So we want to sum up the probabilities for $x=0$ to $x=10$. With the aid of technology, we find:

$$P(X)=\sum_{x=0}^{10}\left({60 \choose x}\left(\frac{1}{6} \right)^x\left(\frac{5}{6} \right)^{60-x} \right)=\frac{9504082209854658458425546996295452117919921875}{16291225993563085829774250757924867955220283392}$$

$$P(X)\approx0.583386555045634235343489438735516181052152146974030836906911$$

I entered the command:

sum of nCr(60,k)(1/6)^k(5/6)^(60-k) for k=0 to 10

at Wolfram|Alpha: Computational Knowledge Engine
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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