Question

On a standard die one of the dots is removed at random with each dot equally likely to be chosen. The die is then rolled. What is the probability that the top face has an odd number of dots?

$\dfrac{5}{11}$

$\dfrac{10}{21}$

$\dfrac{1}{2}$

$\dfrac{11}{21}$

$\dfrac{6}{11}$

Answer: D

Concepts:dice (probability)conditional probability parity

Difficulty rating: 1870

Solution:

The die has $21$ dots, so a dot is removed from the face with $n$ dots with probability $\dfrac{n}{21}.$

If a dot is removed from an odd face, that face becomes even, leaving two odd faces and hence probability $\dfrac{2}{6}=\dfrac{1}{3}$ of an odd top. If a dot is removed from an even face, that face becomes odd, leaving four odd faces and hence probability $\dfrac{4}{6}=\dfrac{2}{3}.$ The removed dot lies on an odd face with probability $\dfrac{1 + 3 + 5}{21}$ and on an even face with probability $\dfrac{2 + 4 + 6}{21}.$

Hence the answer is $\dfrac{1}{3} \cdot \dfrac{9}{21} + \dfrac{2}{3} \cdot \dfrac{12}{21} = \dfrac{33}{63} = \dfrac{11}{21}.$

Thus, the correct answer is D.

2005 AMC 12A Problem 14

Answer: D

Difficulty rating: 1870

Solution:

Problem 14 in Other Years