Probability of getting arithmetic sequence from 3 octahedron dice

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the probability of obtaining an arithmetic sequence from three octahedron dice. The initial calculation yielded 12 possible outcomes, leading to a probability of 9/64, but the correct answer is 5/32. The mistake identified involves not considering the case where the common difference (b) can be zero, which adds additional valid sequences. It is clarified that sequences like (1, 1, 1) are both arithmetic and geometric, while (0, 0, 0) is not valid since zero is not a possible outcome on the dice. The conversation emphasizes the importance of including all valid sequences in probability calculations.
songoku
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Homework Statement
Please see below
Relevant Equations
Probability

Arithmetic Sequence
1652863968883.png

I try to list all the possible sequences:
1 2 3
1 3 5
1 4 7
2 3 4
2 4 6
2 5 8
3 4 5
3 5 7
4 5 6
4 6 8
5 6 7
6 7 8

I get 12 possible outcomes, so the probability is ##\frac{12 \times 3!}{8^3}=\frac{9}{64}##

But the answer key is ##\frac{5}{32}## . Where is my mistake? Thanks
 
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songoku said:
Homework Statement:: Please see below
Relevant Equations:: Probability

Arithmetic Sequence

Where is my mistake?
In the sequence a, a+b, a+2b, what are all the possible values of b?
 
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haruspex said:
In the sequence a, a+b, a+2b, what are all the possible values of b?
I think for this case the difference should be positive integer so b can be 1, 2, or 3
 
songoku said:
I think for this case the difference should be positive integer so b can be 1, 2, or 3
I disagree. 1, 1, 1 is a perfectly good arithmetic sequence.
 
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I know I ll spoil abit the solution but in order to be a bit more formal and since the dice is 8-ply it will have to be $$1\leq a+2b\leq8\Rightarrow \frac{1-a}{2}\leq b\leq \frac{8-a}{2}$$ and ofc $$b\geq 0$$.
 
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Anyway I think you did find the b correctly, except you didn't took the case b=0 (and tbh I myself didn't think of that). If you add the 8 cases (a,a,a) ,a=1...8 to your result, you get the answer key.
 
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haruspex said:
I disagree. 1, 1, 1 is a perfectly good arithmetic sequence.
Delta2 said:
I know I ll spoil abit the solution but in order to be a bit more formal and since the dice is 8-ply it will have to be $$1\leq a+2b\leq8\Rightarrow \frac{1-a}{2}\leq b\leq \frac{8-a}{2}$$ and ofc $$b\geq 0$$.
Is 1, 1, 1 can also be called geometric sequence?
 
songoku said:
Is 1, 1, 1 can also be called geometric sequence?
Yes it is arithmetic sequence with ##\omega=0## and geometric sequence with ##\omega=1##.
 
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Delta2 said:
Yes it is arithmetic sequence with ##\omega=0## and geometric sequence with ##\omega=1##.
How about 0, 0, 0? Can that also be called both arithmetic and geometric sequence?
 
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I think yes but why are you asking these questions...
 
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  • #11
0 isn't a possible number from the dice.
 
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  • #12
Delta2 said:
I think yes but why are you asking these questions...
I just want to know so if I do other questions I know which one I can consider as arithmetic or geometric sequence.

Thank you very much for the help and explanation haruspex and Delta2
 
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