Very quick probability verification

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating probabilities in a game of dice poker, specifically focusing on the probabilities of various hands formed by rolling five dice. The original poster presents a set of probabilities for different outcomes and notes discrepancies with the book's answers.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate probabilities based on the assumption that all outcomes are equally likely, using the total number of outcomes as the denominator. Some participants question this approach, suggesting that the selection of dice and the arrangement of outcomes must be considered. Others raise points about terminology and the proper use of the word "dice."

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the original poster's calculations, with some providing corrections and alternative considerations regarding the counting of outcomes. There is acknowledgment of the need to account for the selection of dice in the probability calculations, indicating a productive direction in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted assumption that the sample space is treated as if the dice are unique, which some participants challenge. Additionally, there is a mention of terminology regarding the plural form of "die," which may reflect a broader discussion about language in mathematical contexts.

quasar987
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I got these very easy prob. questions but none of my answers match those of the book except for the 1st and last one. Here's the problem,

Dice poker is played by throwing simultaneously 5 dices. Show that:

a) P(5 different cards)=0.0926
b) P(1 pair)=0.4630
c) P(2 pairs)=0.2315
d) P(3 of a kind)=0.1543
e) P(full house)=0.0386
f) P(4 of a kind)=0.0193
g) P(5 of a kind)=0.0008


Solution:
The fundamental set [itex]\Omega[/itex] is "all possible thrown of the 5 dices", which yields #[itex]\Omega=6^5[/itex]. We make the hypothesis that all fundamental events (the elements of [itex]\Omega[/itex]) are equiprobable. With this assumption, we can calculate the required probability by taking the ratio of the given event to the cardinality of [itex]\Omega[/itex].

a) P(5 different cards)=6*5*4*3*2/6^5 = 0.0926

b) There are 6 ways of chosing the pair, then 5*4*3 ways to choose the other 3 cards so they are not equal to one another or to the pair. Hence,
P(1 pair)=6*5*4*3/6^5=0.0463.

c) P(2 pairs)= 6*5*4/6^5=0.0154

d) P(3 of a kind)=6*5*4/6^5=0.0154

e) P(full house)=6*5/6^5=0.00386

f) P(4 of a kind)=6*5/6^5=0.00386

g) P(5 of a kind)=6/6^5=0.0008
 
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You're not taking into account the number of ways you can select the dice from the 5 to make your hand. e.g. for a 4 of a kind, you have 6*5 ways to select which number comes up 4 times and which comes up once, and you have (5 choose 1)=5 ways to select which die gets the unique number.

You are treating your sample space as though the die are labeled and unique, the 6^5 outcomes counts 1,1,1,1,2 and 1,1,1,2,1 as different events and you have to build this into the number of ways to get the hands since the actual order for the hand irrelevant.
 
You're absolutely right!
 
By the way, there is no such thing as "dices". "Dice" is already the plural of "die"
 
1 die sounds weird :p
 

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