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A and B throw a die alternatively till one of them gets 3 or 6 and wins the game. If B starts the game, then the probability of winning the game by A is

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 1

The game continues until someone rolls a 3 or 6. B throws first, then they alternate.

On any single throw:

Probability of winning (rolling 3 or 6) = 26=13\frac{2}{6} = \frac{1}{3}

Probability of not winning (rolling 1, 2, 4, or 5) = 46=23\frac{4}{6} = \frac{2}{3}


Since B goes first, for A to win, B must fail first. A can win in the following ways:

Round 1: B fails, then A wins

Round 2: B fails, A fails, B fails, then A wins

Round 3: B fails, A fails, B fails, A fails, B fails, then A wins

This pattern continues indefinitely.


P(A wins)=23⋅13+23⋅23⋅23⋅13+23⋅23⋅23⋅23⋅23⋅13+...P(\text{A wins}) = \frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{1}{3} + \frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{1}{3} + \frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{1}{3} + ...

P(A wins)=23⋅13[1+(23)2+(23)4+(23)6+...]P(\text{A wins}) = \frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{1}{3} \left[1 + \left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^2 + \left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^4 + \left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^6 + ...\right]


The series in brackets is a geometric series with first term a=1a = 1 and common ratio r=(23)2=49r = \left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^2 = \frac{4}{9}

Sum =a1−r= \frac{a}{1-r}

Sum =11−49= \frac{1}{1 - \frac{4}{9}}

Sum =159= \frac{1}{\frac{5}{9}}

Sum =95= \frac{9}{5}


P(A wins)=23⋅13⋅95P(\text{A wins}) = \frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{1}{3} \cdot \frac{9}{5}

P(A wins)=29⋅95P(\text{A wins}) = \frac{2}{9} \cdot \frac{9}{5}

P(A wins)=1845P(\text{A wins}) = \frac{18}{45}

P(A wins)=25P(\text{A wins}) = \frac{2}{5}

Therefore, the probability of A winning the game is 25\frac{2}{5}.

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