Let a, b and c denote the outcome of three independent rolls of a fair tetrahedral die, whose four faces are marked 1, 2, 3, 4. If the probability that ax2 + bx + c = 0 has all real roots is mn, (m, n) = 1, then m + n is equal to .
Answer
19
Solution
Total outcomes = 43 = 64. Real roots need b2 4ac, i.e. ac b24:
b = 1: ac 14, no case
b = 2: ac 1: (1, 1), 1 case
b = 3: ac 2.25: (1, 1), (1, 2), (2, 1), 3 cases
b = 4: ac 4, i.e. ac = 1, 2, 3, 4: 8 cases
Favourable = 0 + 1 + 3 + 8 = 12, so P = 1264 = 316, giving m + n = 3 + 16 = 19.
Answer: 19