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An unlikely solution! (Posted on 2024-02-21) Difficulty: 3 of 5
The values p and q in the quadratic expression 2x2 - px + q are determined by throwing two standard fair cubical dice, one red and one blue.

p is given by the value shown by the red die and q is given by the value shown on the blue die.

What is the probability that the equation 2x2 - px + q = 0 will have a solution that is a prime number?

No Solution Yet Submitted by Danish Ahmed Khan    
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soln | Comment 1 of 4
 Prob = 1/18=0.0555....

Out of the 36 possible throws of the dice, only two: (p,q) = (5,2) and 
(p,q)=(6,4) give a prime as a root, x=2 

(16 throws give complex roots, and of the real roots produced, 
the paired rational roots are two of .5, 1, 1.5, and 2.)   


Edited on February 21, 2024, 11:31 am
  Posted by Steven Lord on 2024-02-21 11:15:38

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