Editor’s Note: The Department of Mathematics at Gettysburg College hosts a problem of the week challenge to determine each semester’s Paul Mugabi problem-solving award recipient(s). Each week’s entries are scored by a faculty judge, and winner(s) from each week will receive a Problem Of the Week (P.O.W.) button. The Gettysburgian is not involved in or responsible for accepting or evaluating students’ submissions to this contest.
Solutions Due: Friday, October 20, 5:00 p.m.
Send solutions to bkennedy@gettysburg.edu. The contest is open to all Gettysburg College students. Up to three people may work together on a submission. Make sure your name is on your submission and that any sources are properly cited. Weekly winners will receive a POW victory button, and the best-performing students of the semester will receive the Paul Mugabi problem-solving award.
Shooting for the Stars
Suppose that we roll a fair six-sided die repeatedly, adding up all the numbers we get as we go. We stop rolling as soon as our total exceeds 100 — so our possible final totals are 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, and 106. Is any of these final totals more likely than another? Decide, and explain.
