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Conference rusure::math

Title:Mathematics at DEC
Moderator:RUSURE::EDP
Created:Mon Feb 03 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2083
Total number of notes:14613

1103.0. "a little yahtzee problem" by ESCROW::MUNZER () Mon Jul 31 1989 20:57

In Yahtzee, you try to get certain combinations of five dice in three rolls. 
You roll all five dice on your first turn, then as many as you wish on the
second and third rolls.  E.g. if the goal is four-of-a-kind, you might have the
following sequence:

	Roll 13556
	Keep 55, roll 245, have 24555
	Keep 555, roll 35, have 35555 (success)

One of the goals is a five-straight (12345 or 23456).  What should you keep if
your first roll is 12346 and you need a five-straight?

John
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1103.1AITG::DERAMODaniel V. {AITG,ZFC}:: D'EramoMon Jul 31 1989 22:3212
	If you keep the 2346 and roll the remaining die, rolling
	it again if it isn't a 5, then you have a probability of
	11/36 of ending up with 23456.  Likewise, if you keep the
	1234 and roll the remaining die, rolling it again if it
	isn't a 5, then you have the same probability, 11/36, of
	ending up with 12345.

	Is there a strategy that has a higher probability of getting
	a five-straight?  What if you keep the 234 and roll the
	remaining two dice?

	Dan
1103.2I'll keep four, thanksNIZIAK::YARBROUGHI PREFER PIWed Aug 02 1989 15:2214
If you keep only the 234, then on the second roll:
1) In 4 cases you will hit 12345 or 23456
2) In 9 cases you will improve to 1234
3) In 7 cases you will improve to 2345
4) In 7 cases you will improve to 2346
5) In 9 cases you will remain with 234
The improvement chances for cases 2-5 are 1/6,1/3,1/6, and 1/9, so the 
total probablility of success is
	4/36 + 9/(36*6) + 7/(36*3) + 7/(36*6) + 9/(36*9)
	=.27777...
which is less than 11/36 = .30555..., so the best strategy appears to be to 
try to get a 5 in two rolls.

Lynn 
1103.3yahtzeeeESCROW::MUNZERWed Aug 02 1989 17:275
    Lynn,
    
    I agree.  Suppose you have N rolls.  What's best?
    
    John
1103.4You lose on doublesAKQJ10::YARBROUGHI prefer PiWed Aug 02 1989 20:157
I think you always do better by trying to roll one number with one die than
to roll any n numbers with n dice. The odds calculations are a bit hairy, 
but it resembles the calculations for the carnival game called 
chuck-a-luck, which favors the house because you lose ground when you roll 
multiples. The difference between .2777 and .3055 in .-2 is 1/36, and that
is the chance of rolling two 5's on your second roll; you must have one 5 
to win, but two doesn't buy you anything.
1103.5N matters to meESCROW::MUNZERThu Aug 03 1989 20:385
    Lynn,
    
    Now, I disagree.  but I can't follow your reasoning.
    
    John
1103.6KOBAL::GILBERTDon't Worry, Be Bobby McFerrinSat Aug 05 1989 15:2511
	If you keep the 2346 and roll the remaining die, rolling
	it again if it isn't a 5, for up to N times, then the
	probability of ending up with 23456 is:

		( 1 - (5/6)^N ) / 36

	Likewise, you have the same probability if you keep the 1234.


	If you keep only the 234, the calculation of the probability
	of success is tedious.
1103.7AITG::DERAMODaniel V. {AITG,ZFC}:: D'EramoSun Aug 06 1989 02:205
        re .6
        
        That's just 1 - (5/6)^N; not divided by 36.
        
        Dan