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John Smith’s Problem

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2016

T.W. Chaundy  and
JE. Bullard
T.W. Chaundy
Affiliation:
Christ Church, Oxford
JE. Bullard
Affiliation:
Christ’s Hospital, Horsham
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Extract

In the autumn of 1693 the Writing Master of Christ’s Hospital, one John Smith, asked Samuel Pepys the diarist, who was a Governor of Christ’s Hospital and eventually became its Vice-President, for the answer to the following question:

The Question.

A—has 6 dice in a box, with which he is to fling a 6.

B—has in another box 12 dice, with which he is to fling 2 sixes.

C—has in another box 18 dice, with which he is to fling 3 sixes.

Q—Whether B and C have not as easy a taske as A at even luck?

Type
Research Article
Information
The Mathematical Gazette , Volume 44 , Issue 350 , December 1960 , pp. 253 - 260
Copyright
Copyright © Mathematical Association 1960

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