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Repeating the same pair of dice values

Question

Two fair six-sided dice are thrown and the two numbers are noted. Both dice are then thrown a second time. What is the probability that the second throw produces the same pair of numbers as the first (in either order)?

Short answer

11216\tfrac{11}{216}. If the first throw is a double (probability 16\tfrac16), the repeat needs that exact double, probability 136\tfrac1{36}. If it shows two different values (probability 56\tfrac56), either order works, probability 236\tfrac2{36}. Total 16⋅136+56⋅118=11216\tfrac16\cdot\tfrac1{36}+\tfrac56\cdot\tfrac1{18}=\tfrac{11}{216}.

Adapted from QuantQuestions.io; question and answer rewritten by SelfMadeQuant.com.

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