What is the probability of rolling a 3 or a 5 on a standard six-sided die?

To determine the probability of rolling a 3 or a 5 on a standard six-sided die, we start by recognizing the total number of possible outcomes when rolling the die, which is six (the faces numbered 1 through 6).

Next, we identify the outcomes that are favorable to our scenario: rolling a 3 or a 5. There are 2 specific outcomes that meet this criterion: rolling a 3 and rolling a 5. Therefore, we have 2 favorable outcomes.

Now, to compute the probability, we use the formula for probability, which is the number of favorable outcomes divided by the total number of possible outcomes. This gives us:

Probability = Number of Favorable Outcomes / Total Outcomes

Probability = 2 / 6

Simplifying this fraction yields:

Probability = 1 / 3

Thus, the probability of rolling a 3 or a 5 on a standard six-sided die is indeed 1/3. This reasoning aligns with basic principles of probability and demonstrates a clear method for calculating probabilities with discrete outcomes.