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2023 AMC 10A Problem 7

Problem 7 of 25EasierCounting & Probability

Janet rolls a standard 66-sided die 44 times and keeps a running total of the numbers she rolls. What is the probability that at some point her running total will equal 3?3?

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Solution

The total can only reach exactly 33 through the opening rolls, and these ways are disjoint: 33 alone (probability 16\frac16), then 1,21,2 and 2,12,1 (each 136\frac1{36}), and 1,1,11,1,1 (probability 1216\frac1{216}). Add them up: 36216+6216+6216+1216=49216.\frac{36}{216} + \frac{6}{216} + \frac{6}{216} + \frac{1}{216} = \frac{49}{216}. Thus, B is the correct answer.

More practice

Concepts: dice (probability) · casework

Problem text and solution from the LIVE past-contest archive. See also the AoPS wiki page for community solutions.