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2019 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 18

Revision as of 18:27, 27 April 2021 by Putu2003 (talk | contribs) (→‎Solution 4 (Casework))

Problem 18

The faces of each of two fair dice are numbered $1$, $2$, $3$, $5$, $7$, and $8$. When the two dice are tossed, what is the probability that their sum will be an even number?

$\textbf{(A) }\frac{4}{9}\qquad\textbf{(B) }\frac{1}{2}\qquad\textbf{(C) }\frac{5}{9}\qquad\textbf{(D) }\frac{3}{5}\qquad\textbf{(E) }\frac{2}{3}$

Solution 1

We have a $2$ die with $2$ evens and $4$ odds on both dies. For the sum to be even, the rolls must consist of $2$ odds or $2$ evens.

Ways to roll $2$ odds (Case $1$): The total number of ways to roll $2$ odds is $4*4=16$, as there are $4$ choices for the first odd on the first roll and $4$ choices for the second odd on the second roll.

Ways to roll $2$ evens (Case $2$): Similarly, we have $2*2=4$ ways to roll ${36}=\frac{20}{36}=\frac{5}{9}$, or $\framebox{C}$.

Solution 2 (Complementary Counting)

We count the ways to get an odd. If the sum is odd, then we must have an even and an odd. The probability of an even is $\frac{1}{3}$, and the probability of an odd is $\frac{2}{3}$. We have to multiply by $2!$ because the even and odd can be in any order. This gets us $\frac{4}{9}$, so the answer is $1 - \frac{4}{9} = \frac{5}{9} = \boxed{(\textbf{C})}$.

Solution 3

To get an even, you must get either 2 odds or 2 evens. The probability of getting 2 odds is $\frac{4}{6} * \frac{4}{6}$. The probability of getting 2 evens is $\frac{2}{6} * \frac{2}{6}$. If you add them together, you get $\frac{16}{36} + \frac{4}{36}$ = $\boxed{(\textbf{C}) \frac{5}{9}}$.

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/8fF55uF64mE - Happytwin


Associated video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoBZy_WYWEw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H52AqAl4nt4&t=2s

Video Solution

Solution detailing how to solve the problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94D1UnH7seo&list=PLbhMrFqoXXwmwbk2CWeYOYPRbGtmdPUhL&index=19

See Also

2019 AMC 8 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 17 		Followed by
Problem 19
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25
All AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

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