Two dominoes are picked at random from a standard set of double-sixes. Such a set contains all the possible combinations of two numbers of pips that are possible from zero to six. That includes all 7x6/2=21 combinations of two different numbers plus all seven doubles from double zero to double six.

You look at only one of the two numbers on each domino, choosing at random which end to look at. You see that the number you look at on the first domino is 1. The number you see on the second domino is 2 (of course represented as pips).

What is the probability that you will be able to use these two dominoes as the ends of a chain of dominoes using all 28 in the set, linked in the usual fashion of requiring a match between the two adjoining numbers of two touching dominoes?

Remember, the numbers you looked at need not be the end numbers--one or the other of the still-hidden numbers might be positioned at the actual end(s) of the chain.

answer : 17/48

SOLUTION: build a table 7*7 showing all possible pairs of 1-dom and 2-dom
out of 49 possible pairs one is precluded : intersection of 1-2 and 2-1.

now insert * in any square of a table which enables the " happy ending" and count the ***.

I GOT 17 OUT OF 48 POSSIBLE (7 -DIAGONAL AND 11
1-2 THE WHOLE ROW AND 2-1 THE WHOLE COLUMN - ONE COMMON)

BEATIFUL PUZZLE

ady

Posted by Ady TZIDON on 2004-02-11 15:20:05