Question

Think about tossing two coins.

Answer 1

Given:

Two coins are tossed.

To find:

1. P(H on first coin)?

2. P(H on second coin)?

3. List the paired outcomes for tossing two coins.

4. How many ways are there for two coins to land?

5. What is P(HH)?

Solution:

If a a coin is tossed, then we have to possible outcomes, i.e., heads (H) and tails (T).

It is given that two coins are tossed.

1. The probability of getting a heads on first coin is:

$P(H \text{ on first coin})=\dfrac{1}{2}$

2. The probability of getting a heads on second coin is:

$P(H \text{ on second coin})=\dfrac{1}{2}$

3. If two coins are tossed, then the total possible outcomes are:

$\{HH,HT,TH,TT\}$

4. The number of ways for two coins to land is 4.

5. The probability of the heads on both tosses is:

$P(HH)=\dfrac{1}{4}$

Therefore, the required solution are:

1. $P(H \text{ on first coin})=\dfrac{1}{2}$

2. $P(H \text{ on second coin})=\dfrac{1}{2}$

3. List of possible outcomes is $\{HH,HT,TH,TT\}$.

4. Number of possible outcomes is 4.

5. $P(HH)=\dfrac{1}{4}$