What are the odds...

[Riley Blue]

Last night we were playing a board game and with a single dice I threw five 6's in a row - what are the odds of doing that?

Pity they were all of no use to me, I needed a 1...

[FredClogs]

1 in 7776 or in other words 6^6

[popegregory]

FredClogs said:

1 in 7776 or in other words 6^6

6^5, surely?

[ILikeCake]

The probability of getting five of the same number is 1 in 7776. BUT only if you specify what number you're looking for in advance of the first roll.

In your case I don't think it matters whether you rolled a six first. I.e. you'd have been equally surprised if you had rolled a four five times in a row.

So the probability of rolling any number five times in a row is (1/6)^4. Or 1 in 1296.

[NormalWisdom]

6^6 I think, however, the chance of rolling "any" number 6 times in a row would be 6^5 as the first roll wouldn't count

[ILikeCake]

Dunno why there is a sixth roll in some of the posts above! The op says five in a row.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

As said, the chances of rolling five 6s on the trot is 1/7776. The odds of rolling the same number five times in a row is 1/1296.

[FredClogs]

popegregory said:

FredClogs said:

1 in 7776 or in other words 6^6

6^5, surely?

I misread the question.

Don't call me Shirley.

[Riley Blue]

Thanks everyone - bet I can't do it again when I need it.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Riley Blue said:

Thanks everyone - bet I can't do it again when I need it.

If you try it enough times, you're bound to do it again. On average you'll do it once in every 7776 attempts.

[popegregory]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Riley Blue said:

Thanks everyone - bet I can't do it again when I need it.

If you try it enough times, you're bound to do it again. On average you'll do it once in every 7776 attempts.

Also not true. He wasn’t after five whatever-number-it-was specifically, he just noticed he rolled five of something in a row. Five of something in a row will come up every 1296 times.

ETA he’s literally just typed “can’t do when needed” so yes, that suggests a required number so 7776.

Edited by popegregory on Sunday 20th October 07:02

[anonymous-user]

Ooooh buy a lottery ticket now OP.

[dickymint]

5490 said:

Ooooh buy a lottery ticket now OP.

No buy 5 all with the same numbers........or should it be six