2003 Paper 3 Q14

Year: 2003
Paper: 3
Question Number: 14

Course: UFM Statistics
Section: Probability Generating Functions

Difficulty: 1700.0 Banger: 1599.8

Problem

Write down the probability generating function for the score on a standard, fair six-faced die whose faces are labelled \(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6\). Hence show that the probability generating function for the sum of the scores on two standard, fair six-faced dice, rolled independently, can be written as \[ \frac1{36} t^2 \l 1 + t \r^2 \l 1 - t + t^2 \r^2 \l 1 + t + t^2 \r^2 \;. \] Write down, in factorised form, the probability generating functions for the scores on two fair six-faced dice whose faces are labelled with the numbers \(1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4\) and \(1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8,\) and hence show that when these dice are rolled independently, the probability of any given sum of the scores is the same as for the two standard fair six-faced dice. Standard, fair four-faced dice are tetrahedra whose faces are labelled \(1, 2, 3, 4,\) the score being taken from the face which is not visible after throwing, and each score being equally likely. Find all the ways in which two fair four-faced dice can have their faces labelled with positive integers if the probability of any given sum of the scores is to be the same as for the two standard fair four-faced dice.

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Rating Information

Difficulty Rating: 1700.0

Difficulty Comparisons: 0

Banger Rating: 1599.8

Banger Comparisons: 10

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Problem source
Write down the probability generating function for 
the score on a standard, fair six-faced die whose faces are labelled 
$1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6$. Hence show that the probability 
generating function for the sum of the scores on two standard, 
fair six-faced dice, rolled independently, can be written as
\[
\frac1{36} t^2 \l 1 + t \r^2 \l 1 - t + t^2 \r^2 \l 1 + t + t^2 \r^2 \;.
\]
Write down, in factorised form, the probability generating functions for 
the scores on two fair six-faced dice whose faces are labelled with the 
numbers $1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4$ and $1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8,$ 
and hence show that when these dice are rolled independently, 
the probability of any given sum of the scores is the same as for the two standard 
fair six-faced dice.
Standard, fair four-faced dice are tetrahedra whose faces are labelled $1, 2, 3, 4,$ 
the score being taken from the face which is not 
visible after throwing, and each score being equally likely. 
Find all the ways in which two fair four-faced dice can have 
their faces labelled with positive integers if the probability 
of any given sum of the scores is to be the same as for the two standard 
fair four-faced dice.