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2014 AMC 10B Problem 16

Problem 16 of 25IntermediateProbability & StatisticsProblem-Solving Techniques

Four fair six-sided dice are rolled. What is the probability that at least three of the four dice show the same value?

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Solution

There are 646^4 equally likely ordered outcomes. If exactly three dice show the same value, choose the repeated value in 66 ways, the different value in 55 ways, and the position of the different die in 44 ways. This gives 6⋅5⋅4=1206\cdot5\cdot4=120 outcomes. If all four dice match, there are 66 outcomes. The probability is 120+664=1261296=772\frac{120+6}{6^4}=\frac{126}{1296}=\frac7{72}. Thus, the correct answer is B .
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