A fair 6 sided dice is marked with the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4,5, and 6. The dice is rolled three times and the results are added. How many different sums are possible?

Answer 1

I saw this question on a "Simulated TASC Test." The answer key gives the answer as 16 but I drew a table 6 columns across to represent each number and then 3 rows under the number headings to represent each roll of the die. Then adding the sums, there are a total of 18 combinations not 16.

Answer 2

The first possible sum would be 3 as 1+1+1=3. The largest possible sum would be 18 as 6+6+6=18. If you could the sums possible between and including 3 and 18, you get 16 possible sums!