View Single Post
  #2   Report Post  
Posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
Jerry W. Lewis
 
Posts: n/a
Default How to calculate probability

Assuming fair dice

4 can occur only if each die shows a 1: prob=1/6^4

5 can occur if 1 die shows 2 and the rest show 1: prob=COMBIN(4,1)/6^4

6 can occur if 1 die shows 3 and the rest show 1: prob=COMBIN(4,1)/6^4
or if 2 dice show 2 and the rest show 1: prob=COMBIN(4,2)/6^4
(add the two probabilities)

7 can occur if 1 die shows 4 and the rest show 1: prob=COMBIN(4,1)/6^4
or if 1 die shows 3, 1 die shows 2 and the rest show 1:
prob=MULTINOMIAL(1,1,2)/6^4
or if 3 dice show 2 and 1 die shows 1: prob=COMBIN(4,1)/6^4

....

Jerry

Al wrote:

Column a is a list of possible results that can be generated by the use of 4
six sided dice together ranging from 4-24. What I want to calculate in
column B is the number of combinations that the dice can produce that would
total to any given result.

How do I do this? Can I do this?