Answer: The probability of getting an even number when rolling a fair six-sided die is 1/2 or 50%.
When rolling a fair six-sided die, each face is numbered from 1 to 6. To calculate the probability of getting an even number, we can use the probability formula:
In this context:
- Number of favorable outcomes (getting an even number) = 3 (even numbers are 2, 4, and 6).
- Total number of possible outcomes (numbers on the die) = 6 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).
Substituting these values into the formula, we get:
Simplifying the fraction, we get:
This means that there is a 1 in 2 chance of rolling an even number when using a fair six-sided die. Another way to express this probability is as a percentage: 50%. The probability of getting an even number is equal to the probability of getting an odd number, as there are an equal number of even and odd outcomes on a fair six-sided die.
In summary, when you roll a fair six-sided die, there is a 50% chance of obtaining an even number, illustrating the principle of equal likelihood for each possible outcome. This probability calculation provides a simple example of how probability concepts can be applied to understand the chances of specific outcomes in a random experiment.