This happens in Stoppard's play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. I think in comes up tails once in the whole play? Can someone calculate that probability? Thanks!
2007-02-01 05:26:04 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
You have a better chance of being struck by a 5 pound meteor made of pure diamond on July 4, 2009 at noon.
2007-02-01 05:54:04 · answer #1 · answered by davidosterberg1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually probability is not really a chance system where things hapen haphazardly. This is where wrong conception about theprobability distribution arise.
Probablility is a dependent function(forced function).
Unless the coin is rigged the same condition cannot occur continuously.The reason is that the out come of such event depends on the increase of temperature the coin goes thru and the chages of gravity that occur as the Earth Orbits the sun,and the different hights the coin is flipped..
So such a probability really does not exist.
Probability distribution keeping all variable(including gravity) constant would form a Binominal distribution curve.
2007-02-01 05:52:52 · answer #2 · answered by goring 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For one coin flip, probability is 1 in 2 for a heads...
For two: 1 in 4 for all heads...
For three: 1 in 8 for all heads...
Therefore the rule is 1 in 2 ^ n (to the power of n)
For the 102nd flip it would be 1 in 2 ^ 102
This is the same as 1 in 5.0706 e 30 times it could happen.
2007-02-01 05:39:41 · answer #3 · answered by swisshorizon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if it were heads once it would be 1/2
if it were twice, it would be 1/2^2 or 1/4
so the answer is 1/2^102
or 1/5070602400912917605986812821504
2007-02-01 05:36:40 · answer #4 · answered by Gino R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The formula is 0.5^(102).
The odds are :
0.00000000000000000000000000002%
2007-02-01 05:36:16 · answer #5 · answered by Boomer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋