To determine the probability of rolling either a 5 or a 6 on a six-sided die, we start by understanding a few key concepts about probability.
A standard six-sided die has six faces, numbered from 1 to 6. When you roll the die, each face has an equal chance of landing face up. Therefore, the total number of possible outcomes when rolling a six-sided die is 6.
Now, let’s identify the favorable outcomes for this scenario. We want to roll either a 5 or a 6. There are exactly two outcomes that meet this criterion:
- Rolling a 5
- Rolling a 6
This gives us a total of 2 favorable outcomes.
To calculate the probability, we use the following formula:
Probability (P) = Number of favorable outcomes / Total number of possible outcomes
Substituting our values:
P(rolling a 5 or 6) = 2 (favorable outcomes) / 6 (total outcomes) = 1/3
Thus, the probability of rolling either a 5 or a 6 on a six-sided die is 1/3, which can also be expressed as approximately 0.333 or 33.33%.
In summary, every time you roll a six-sided die, there is a one in three chance that you will roll either a 5 or a 6. This simple concept helps us understand the fundamental principles of probability in gaming and other random events.