Ontario Mathematics Proficiency Practice Test

To determine the probability of rolling a sum of 8 with two six-sided dice, we first need to identify all possible outcomes that result in that sum.

When rolling two dice, each die has 6 faces, resulting in a total of 36 possible combinations (6 sides on the first die multiplied by 6 sides on the second die). Now, we will enumerate the combinations that yield a sum of 8:

1. (2, 6)

2. (3, 5)

3. (4, 4)

4. (5, 3)

5. (6, 2)

Counting these combinations, we find there are 5 outcomes that result in a sum of 8.

To find the probability, we need to divide the number of favorable outcomes by the total number of possible outcomes:

Probability = Number of favorable outcomes / Total outcomes = 5 / 36.

Thus, the correct answer is that the probability of rolling a sum of 8 with two six-sided dice is 5/36. This calculation reflects the understanding of basic probability concepts, specifically how to determine favorable outcomes in relation to total outcomes in a simple experiment like rolling dice.