Roll 6 Dice: Solve Probability Puzzle!

AI Thread Summary
To determine how many times you need to roll six dice to see all six different numbers, the average is calculated to be 64.8 rolls. This figure is derived from the probability of rolling all six values, which is 6! divided by 66 possible outcomes. The calculation simplifies to a probability of 5/324 for achieving all six numbers in one roll. Consequently, the average interval for such outcomes follows a Poisson distribution, leading to the result of 64.8 rolls. The discussion emphasizes the mathematical reasoning behind this probability puzzle.
Raybert
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On average, how many times do you need to roll six dice together to see all six different numbers turn up within a single such group roll?
 
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64.8 times?
 
CompuChip said:
64.8 times?

I agree, except for the .8 :)
 
I agreed with 64.8, for the following reasons:

There are 6! ways of throwing all six values and 66 possible results, so the probability in each throw is 6!/66 = (1*2*3*4*5*6)/(6*6*6*6*6*6) = (4*5)/(6*6*6*6) = 5/(3*3*6*6) = 5/324.

The average interval between such throws (or, as in this case, before the first such throw) is therefore the reciprocal of this, 324/5 = 64.8, as usual for a Poisson distribution.
 
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