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JEE Advanced 2016 Paper 2 · Mathematics · Probability · medium

Two players A and B throw a fair die alternately, A throwing first; the first player to throw a six wins the game.

One or more options correct

Two players AA and BB throw a fair die alternately, AA throwing first; the first player to throw a six wins the game. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
  1. A. The probability that AA wins is 712\dfrac{7}{12}
  2. B. The probability that BB wins is 511\dfrac{5}{11}
  3. C. Given that the game lasts at least four throws, the probability that AA wins is 611\dfrac{6}{11}
  4. D. The expected number of throws in the game is 112\dfrac{11}{2}
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Answer: B

A wins on throws 1,3,5,…1,3,5,\dots so P(A)=16∑m≥0(56)2m=1/61−25/36=611P(A)=\frac16\sum_{m\ge0}\left(\frac56\right)^{2m}=\frac{1/6}{1-25/36}=\frac{6}{11}, and P(B)=1−611=511P(B)=1-\frac6{11}=\frac5{11}. Therefore (A) is false and (B) is true. For (C): the game lasts at least four throws when the first three throws are not sixes; the fourth throw is then made by BB, so the situation is the original game with the roles of AA and BB exchanged, and AA wins with probability P(B)=511P(B)=\frac{5}{11}, not 611\frac6{11}; (C) is false. For (D): the number of throws until the first six is geometric with success probability 16\frac16, so its expectation is 66, not 112\frac{11}{2}, and (D) is false. Only (B) is correct.
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