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JEE Mathematics 2024 Question with Solution

If an unbiased dice is rolled thrice, then the probability of getting a greater number in the ii-th roll than the number obtained in the (i1)(i-1)-th roll, i=2,3i = 2, 3, is equal to:

  • A

    354\frac{3}{54}

  • B

    254\frac{2}{54}

  • C

    554\frac{5}{54}

  • D

    154\frac{1}{54}

Answer

Correct answer:C

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: An unbiased dice is rolled thrice.

Find: The probability that the number obtained satisfies x1<x2<x3x_1 < x_2 < x_3.

The total number of possible outcomes is

63=2166^3 = 216

Now count the favorable cases where the second roll is greater than the first and the third roll is greater than the second.

If x1=1x_1 = 1, then x2x_2 can be 2,3,4,5,62,3,4,5,6. The corresponding choices for x3x_3 give

4+3+2+1=104 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 10

favorable outcomes.

If x1=2x_1 = 2, then x2x_2 can be 3,4,5,63,4,5,6. The corresponding choices for x3x_3 give

3+2+1=63 + 2 + 1 = 6

favorable outcomes.

If x1=3x_1 = 3, then x2x_2 can be 4,5,64,5,6. The corresponding choices for x3x_3 give

2+1=32 + 1 = 3

favorable outcomes.

If x1=4x_1 = 4, then x2x_2 can be 5,65,6. The corresponding choices for x3x_3 give

11

favorable outcome.

So, the total number of favorable outcomes is

10+6+3+1=2010 + 6 + 3 + 1 = 20

Therefore, the required probability is

P=20216=554P = \frac{20}{216} = \frac{5}{54}

Hence, the correct option is C.

Combination Method

Given: We need strictly increasing results in three rolls.

Find: The probability that x1<x2<x3x_1 < x_2 < x_3.

A strictly increasing triple is obtained by choosing any 33 distinct numbers from {1,2,3,4,5,6}\{1,2,3,4,5,6\} and arranging them in increasing order. For each chosen set, the increasing order is unique.

So the number of favorable cases is

(63)=20\binom{6}{3} = 20

while the total number of outcomes is

63=2166^3 = 216

Hence,

P=(63)63=20216=554P = \frac{\binom{6}{3}}{6^3} = \frac{20}{216} = \frac{5}{54}

Therefore, the correct option is C.

Common mistakes

  • Counting non-decreasing outcomes instead of strictly increasing outcomes. Here the condition is greater than, so equal numbers such as 2,2,52,2,5 are not allowed. Use x1<x2<x3x_1 < x_2 < x_3, not x1x2x3x_1 \le x_2 \le x_3.

  • Using 3!(63)3!\binom{6}{3} as favorable cases. Once three distinct numbers are chosen, only one arrangement is strictly increasing. Multiplying by 3!3! counts all permutations, most of which do not satisfy the condition.

  • Taking total outcomes as (63)\binom{6}{3} instead of 636^3. The dice is rolled three times independently, so every ordered triple from 11 to 66 is possible. Therefore the sample space has size 216216.

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