John Smith’s Problem

Abstract

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?