Advanced search

Answers


do indents on a dice effect the number

hi my names Jasmin I am 10.  I wondered whether the indents on a dice will affect the probability of rolling each number if you roll it millions of times.  I guess the weight of the dice is minutely different on each side and this might effect the number it lands on eg the one is slightly heavier because it only has one hole.  I hope someone can help...

sssss
 (3 votes) average rating:5

submit an answer
  • Member status
  • none

Categories: Domestic Science.

Tags: Probability.

 

Report abuse


4 answer(s)


Reply

Jon-Richfield says:

That was good thinking Jasmin. You are quite correct. You would not even need to throw the dice millions of times.

The way we find out such things, we call statistical analysis, and by carefully counting what we get when we throw the dice, we probably could tell whether the dice are fair or not after just a few hundred throws.

It is in fact very difficult to design dice to be exactly fair. The slightest difference in the rounding of the corners or the lengths of the sides can make a big difference to the way the dice roll, and the score that you get after some hundreds of throws.

As for you, just keep thinking about such things. The more you do, the more interesting the new things that you might discover.

sssss
 (2 votes) average rating:3

Tags: Probability.

top

posted on 2010-10-11 21:06:54 | Report abuse


Reply

petethebloke says:

Good for you indeed.

If you come up with an alternative to dice, it might catch on. Necessity is the mother of invention and most advances we make are a result of being dissatisfied with whatever we have already.

sssss
 (2 votes) average rating:2.5

Tags: Probability.

top

posted on 2010-10-12 13:08:47 | Report abuse


Reply

aceunknown says:

Though it is a possibility that this effects the dice. Companies that make dice work REALLY hard to make sure they are as fair as possible. I'm sure that they probably consider the size and shape of each indentation on the dice. Possibly making the 1 side dot bigger or heavier to equal the dots on the 6 side.

sssss
 (1 vote) average rating:1

Tags: Probability.

top

posted on 2010-10-12 20:50:09 | Report abuse


Reply

fieldo85 says:

The dots on dice are called pips. In casino's the pips on dice are not indented, but are flush (flat), this ensures each side has an equal weight. But I would assume an average set of dice could would have some bias toward rolling sixes, since they always sit opposite one (the side with the least indents, and therefore the most material making it the heaviest side).

 

sssss
 (no votes)

Tags: numbers, Probability, Weight, die, Dice, Pip.

top

posted on 2010-10-13 17:38:53 | Report abuse


The last word is ...

the place where you ask questions about everyday science

Answer questions, vote for best answers, send your videos and audio questions, save favourite questions and answers, share with friends...

register now


ADVERTISMENT