S1 Probability - Binomial & Geometric Distribution

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a board game scenario where players throw dice, and the focus is on calculating probabilities related to the occurrence of doubles using binomial and geometric distributions.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the interpretation of the probability questions, particularly regarding the phrasing of the third part of the problem. There is discussion about whether "once in four of the first five rounds" implies specific conditions for the other rounds.

Discussion Status

Some participants have clarified their understanding of the problem, while others are still questioning the assumptions and interpretations. A potential approach using binomial distribution has been suggested, but there is no explicit consensus on the correct interpretation of the problem's phrasing.

Contextual Notes

There is uncertainty regarding the assumptions for the rounds where a double does not occur, and participants are considering various interpretations of the problem statement.

AntSC
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Homework Statement



Four players play a board game which requires them to take it in turns to throw two fair dice. Each player throws the two dice once in each round. When a double is thrown the player moves forward six squares. Otherwise the player moves forward one square

Homework Equations



Find:
a) the probability that the first double occurs on the third throw of the game
b) the probability that exactly one of the four players obtains a double in the first round
c) the probability that a double occurs exactly once in 4 of the first 5 rounds

The Attempt at a Solution



a) A geometric problem.
\mathbb{P}\left ( X=3 \right )=\frac{1}{6}\left ( \frac{5}{6} \right )^{2}=0.1157

b) A binomial problem.
\mathbb{P}\left ( X=1 \right )=\binom{4}{1}\frac{1}{6}\left ( \frac{5}{6} \right )^{3}=0.3858

I've checked the answers for part a) and b) and they're correct.

c) This part i have no idea. I've wracked my brains for ages and i can't get clear about making sense of 'once in 4
of the first 5 rounds'. Any help would be brilliant
 
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I think it means that in four of the first five rounds a double happens exactly once. Could be any four of the five. Not sure what should be assumed for the other round... any result at all? No doubles? Any number of doubles except one?
 
Isn't saying 'once in four of the first five', the same as saying 'once in the first five'?
 
AntSC said:
Isn't saying 'once in four of the first five', the same as saying 'once in the first five'?
Not if it means "once in each of some four of the first five".
 
So i take the probability of once in four and then multiply it by how many ways i can get 4 rounds from a total of 5 rounds, namely \binom{5}{4} ?
 
Or \binom{5}{4}\mathbb{P}\left ( X=1 \right ) ?
This is clearly wrong. But it's the closest to making sense to me right now.
 
AntSC said:
So i take the probability of once in four and then multiply it by how many ways i can get 4 rounds from a total of 5 rounds, namely \binom{5}{4} ?
No, you need it to happen in exactly four of the five rounds.
 
I get it now.
It's a new binomial problem with parameters X\sim B\left ( 5, 0.3858 \right )
So \mathbb{P}\left ( X=4 \right )=\binom{5}{4}p^{4}q=0.068
Checked the answer, and it agrees.
Thanks for the help
 

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