to think this was an unfair way to select children

[3boys40]

Given a number between 2 and 12 starting at the front of class. Than rolling a dice to select said children. You would think a maths teacher should know that gives certain children an unfair advantange. My poor ds who sits at the the front had no chance with 2.

[AllSorted]

2 dice or a 12 sided die?

[rebelfor]

2 has the same chance as any other number, on the basis of probabilities.

[mymummademelistentoshitmusic]

The odds are the same as any other numbers coming up. Maybe that's the point the maths teacher was making.

[FrauHelga]

The odds are exactly the same on any number coming up - that's how probability works.

[MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet]

I'm confused. Surely that's the whole point - that regardless of what number the kids were given, their CHANCE was exactly the same on the roll of a dice.

I'm not sure what the problem is?

[Sprink]

Eh?

[Psycobabble]

seems it's a good job its them that's the maths teacher !

[LoblollyBoy]

It must have been two dice, surely, or OP wouldn't be so sad!

[kelda]

I assume you mean two dice?

[AllSorted]

I assume 2 dice were thrown and the numbers added. So for 2 you'd have to get 2 1s, but for 8 you could get 2,6 or 3,5 or 4,4 (plus opposite ways around) so better chance

[LegoAcquaintance]

If it was 2 dice, then the odds are not the same, are they?

2 could only be 1 and 1.
Whereas 7 could be 1 and 6, or 2 and 5, or 4 and 3 - much more likely.

[soupey1]

Actually the probability is not the same for 2 or 12 since there is only one way to make it (assuming 2 x normal six sided dice). For the other numbers there are two possibilities and therefore twice the chance.

[WishUponAStar88]

I took it to mean 2 regular dice? So two 1s would need to be rolled to get to 2 but other numbers could be made from a variety of number combinations

[Purplepixiedust]

??

Surely all have same chance?

[WishUponAStar88]

Haha lots of cross posting!

[TheLyingOldBitchAndHerWardrobe]

The odds aren't the same though; if you were given a number six for example then if the dice rolls any of the combinations adding up to six the child is picked.

12 and 2 only have one combination possible.

Surely that means the odds are worse for those numbers?

I'm bit a maths bod though so may be completely misunderstanding.

[soupey1]

I should have said at least two ways as for some numbers there are even more.

[MyGhostIsFlummoxed]

If it was 2 die then I guess there's more ways to get e.g 6 (5&1, 2&4, 3&3) then 2 (1&1), is that what you mean OP?

[Purplepixiedust]

Ahh yes, see your point.

[Buscake]

If it was 2 dice then 2 has only one chance ie if 2 1s are rolled. Compare this to 6 which could comprise of 3 + 3; 2 + 4; 1 + 5. Better to pull names out of a hat.

[SaucyJackOLantern]

YANBU if it was two dice (die?)

There are six combo's that would give you a total of six (for example). Only two that give you a total of two.

[cailindana]

The odds aren't the same. I presume the teacher was rolling two dice (hence being a number between two and 12). In that case, the only way to get a two is to roll a one and a one, whereas to get a 7, for example, you can roll a 3 and a 4, a 5 and a 2 or a 6 and a 1. The worst numbers to have in that scenario are 2, 3, 11 and 12 as there is only one way to obtain each of those numbers using two dice.

[Thesimplethings]

Actually I see OP's point.

2 can only be made by the dice both falling on the number one.

6 for example can be made by the dice falling on 3/3, 4/2, 5/1 so more li

[whatsonyourplate]

Assuming it was 2 dice, op is right. You can only get 2 by rolling 1, 1 but you could get say 5 by rolling 1,4; 2,3; 3,2; 4,1.

[HighwayDragon]

on a 12 sided dice they all have equal chance, with 2 dice you have a higher probability of getting between 6 and 8. Have you lot never played Catan?!