Question

The probability of getting a sum of 8, when two dice are thrown simultaneously, is :

• A. $\frac{1}{12}$
• B. $\frac{1}{9}$
• C. $\frac{1}{6}$
• D. $\frac{5}{36}$

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understand the problem:
We are asked to find the probability of getting a sum of 8 when two dice are thrown simultaneously. The total possible outcomes when two dice are thrown is 36, as each die has 6 faces, and the total number of outcomes is \( 6 \times 6 = 36 \).

Step 2: Find the favorable outcomes:
We need to find the pairs of numbers on the two dice that add up to 8. The possible pairs that sum to 8 are:
- (2, 6)
- (3, 5)
- (4, 4)
- (5, 3)
- (6, 2)
Thus, there are 5 favorable outcomes.

Step 3: Calculate the probability:
The probability is given by the ratio of favorable outcomes to total possible outcomes. Therefore, the probability of getting a sum of 8 is:
\[ P(\text{sum of 8}) = \frac{\text{favorable outcomes}}{\text{total outcomes}} = \frac{5}{36} \]

Step 4: Conclusion:
The probability of getting a sum of 8 when two dice are thrown is \( \boxed{\frac{5}{36}} \).