|
|
|
|
New Member
|
|
Feb 15, 2008, 02:23 PM
|
|
probability - level 6
How many possible outcomes are there if three coins are tossed?
Thanks
|
|
|
Junior Member
|
|
Feb 15, 2008, 02:31 PM
|
|
Try listing out the possibilities:
Heads, Heads, Heads
Heads, Heads, Tails
Heads, Tails, Heads
Heads, Tails, Tails
Tails, Heads, Heads
Tails, Heads, Tails
Tails, Tails, Heads
Tails, Tails, Tails
|
|
|
Ultra Member
|
|
Feb 15, 2008, 02:36 PM
|
|
Although were not supposed to do your homework for you its 6... only answering because the above is wrong:
Tails, Heads, Tails
Tails, Tails, Heads
These 2 are the same
|
|
|
Junior Member
|
|
Feb 15, 2008, 02:43 PM
|
|
Actually my answer is not wrong. The key here is whether the order of the coins matters.
If order matter then there are 8 possible outcomes. If order doesn't matter then there are 4 possible outcomes.
|
|
|
Uber Member
|
|
Feb 15, 2008, 11:11 PM
|
|
Lowtax4eva, iamthetman is actually correct. This is a weird concept to learn, but each coin is a separate event and each has to be figured separately.
Tails, Heads, Tails means the first coin landed tails, the second landed heads and the third landed tails.
Tails, Tails, Heads means the first coin landed tails, the second landed tails and the third landed heads.
Those are two different sets of outcomes and are not the same.
Original poster, another method is multiplication. Take each step, i.e. the toss of a coin, and figure the number of outcomes it can have. Multiply the outcomes.
That is, the first thing you will do is toss one coin. It has two outcomes: heads and tails. Then you are going to do a second thing. Toss another coin. It does not matter that the second thing you're doing is the same as the first thing. You're doing it again, so you have to figure it again. And it has two outcomes: heads and tails. Then you're doing a third thing, tossing another coin. And it has two outcomes: heads and tails.
Each step has 2 possible outcomes. Multiply the outcomes of each of the three: 2 x 2 x 2 = 8 total possible outcomes for the experiment. Same answer as when you list the outcomes like iamthetman did.
Even though this doing the same thing 3 times, it is no different than making a sandwich. First step is picking the bread: white, wheat or rye. (3 outcomes) Second step picking a condiment: mayo or mustard. (2 outcomes) Third step picking a meat: turkey or ham. (2 outcomes) 3 x 2 x 2 = 12 total possible outcomes for the sandwich making. The coin toss is exactly the same.
|
|
|
Full Member
|
|
Apr 17, 2008, 06:21 AM
|
|
Are these identical coins? If they are then the sandwich example above is incompariable.
|
|
|
Ultra Member
|
|
Apr 17, 2008, 07:06 AM
|
|
Assuming fair coins and all that, there are 2^n possible outcomes when tossing n coins.
Order matters is assumed with these coin tossing problems.
There would be 2^3=8 outcomes if 3 were tossed.
There would be 2^10=1028 if 10 coins were tossed.
There would be 2^1000 if 1000 were tossed.
And so on.
|
|
|
New Member
|
|
Nov 16, 2010, 09:56 AM
|
|
Head,head,head
Tails,tails,tails
Tails,head,head
Head,head,tails
Head,tails,head
Tails,head,tails
|
|
Question Tools |
Search this Question |
|
|
Check out some similar questions!
Probability - level 6
[ 3 Answers ]
put on 5 numbers onto the spinner so that:
the probability of spinning a three is 1/2 and
the probability of spinning an evn number is 1/3
(there are 6 faces on the spinner and there is already a number 1 , witch makes out that only 5 faces are blank and need filling in)
what are they?
...
Probability - level 6
[ 1 Answers ]
question:
steven puts some discs into a bag. He will pull out one disc from the bag that will decide if he goes to bed , cooks a meal , has a drink , or watches TV.
the probability of each occurring is:
bed= 1/4
meal= ?
drink= 1/6
t.v= 1/3
Probability
[ 5 Answers ]
If You Flip A Coin And Toss A 1-6 Number Cube, What Is The Probability Of Choosing A Prime Number And Tails.
Probability
[ 1 Answers ]
I have a problem:
if z=x+y then f(z)=?
(f(x,y):is given)
please help me
View more questions
Search
|