Browse Questions

# A and B throw a pair of die turn by turn. The first to throw 9 is awarded a prize. If A starts the game, What is the probability of A getting the prize?

(A) $\large\frac{11}{17}$

(B) $\large\frac{4}{17}$

(C) $\large\frac{6}{17}$

(D) $\large\frac{9}{17}$

Toolbox:
• P ($\bar{E})$ = 1 - P(E)
• P ($\bar{F})$ = 1 - P(F)
• Sum of intinite G.P.$=\large\frac{a}{1-r}$ where $a=1^{st}\:term\:and\:r=common\:ratio.$
Step 1:
Let us define the following events as
$E$=The person A gets 9
$F$=The person B gets 9
Since a pair of die is thrown the sample space is 36.
Getting a '9' is $\{(5,4),(4,5),(6,3),(3,6)\}$
$\Rightarrow 4$
$\therefore P(E)=\large\frac{4}{36}=\frac{1}{9}$
P ($\bar{E})$ = 1 - P(E)
$\qquad=1-\large\frac{1}{9}$
$\qquad=\large\frac{8}{9}$
$P(F)=\large\frac{1}{9}$
P ($\bar{F})$ = 1 - P(F)
$\qquad=1-\large\frac{1}{9}$
$\qquad=\large\frac{8}{9}$
Step 2:
A wins if he throws a 'nine' in 1st,or 3rd,5th or......throws
Probability of $A$ throwing a 'nine' in first throw = $\large\frac{1}{9}$
A will get third throw if he fails in first and B fails in the second throw.
$\therefore$Probability of $A$ winning in the third throw =$P( E\cap\bar F\cap \bar E)$
$\Rightarrow \large\frac{8}{9}\times\frac{8}{9}\times\frac{1}{9}$
$\Rightarrow (\large\frac{8}{9})^2\times\frac{1}{9}$
Step 3:
Probability of A winning in fifth row =$P(\bar E\cap \bar F\cap \bar E\cap\bar F\cap E)$
$\Rightarrow \big(\large\frac{8}{9})^4\times \frac{1}{9}$
and so on.
Step 4:
Hence the probability of A winning is
$P(E)+P(\bar E\cap \bar F\cap E)+P(\bar E\cap \bar F \cap\bar E\cap\bar F\cap E)$
$=\large\frac{1}{9}+(\large\frac{8}{9})^2.\frac{1}{9}+(\large\frac{8}{9})^4.\frac{1}{9}+....$ which is an infinite G.P.
We know that Sum of intinite G.P.$=\large\frac{a}{1-r}$ where $a=1^{st}\:term\:and\:r=common\:ratio.$
$\Rightarrow\:P(A$ winning)$= \large\frac{1/9}{1-(8/9)^2}$
$= \large\frac{1/9}{17/81}$
$\Rightarrow \large\frac{9}{17}$
Hence the probability of A winning is $\large\frac{9}{17}$
edited Mar 26, 2014