Numerical answer
Players and throw a fair die alternately, first. wins at once if his throw shows ; wins at once if his throw shows , or . Given that the game ends within the first three throws, the probability that is the winner is . Find correct to two decimal places.
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Answer: 0.36
Let the throws be numbered with on odd throws. wins on throw 1 with probability . The game reaches throw 2 with probability , and wins there with probability . The game reaches throw 3 only if both failed, with probability , and wins there with probability . The game cannot end by throw 3 in any other way, so . wins in of the cases. The required conditional probability is . Exact fraction arithmetic confirms .
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