if a coin falls 5 times on its head, does it fall on its heads or tails the sext time?

Question

if a coin falls 5 times on its head, does it fall on its head or tail the sixth time?

Answer 1

Tossing a coin fairly always has a 50-50 chance, so no matter what the history, the chances remain the same for the next toss.

Answer 2

in probabalisic terms whats happened in the past doens't affect the future. Ie if the probablitily is 0.5 50/50 then the probablity of the next outcome remains 50/50.

the law of averages, which effectively is derived from the probability would suggest that a "tails" outcome is likely the next time... BUT you have to note that "likely" isnt the same as "will be".

Theroretically you could toss a coin 100 times and always get a heads up result...... its highly unlikely if the probability calcualtion is correct. Iif that occurred Id suspect either you are gambling with a dodgy (weighted) coin or the coin is heads on both sides OR your probability is wrong. The more throws you do the closer the outcomes should be to the probabilistic determination. The fewer throws you do the more likely you will get anamolous results, hence why simulations using probabilities are run many times to see if the trend is correct

Answer 3

Each event is separate and does not rely upon the previous event. Since there are two sides to the coin and assuming no bias, the answer is 50:50.

Statistics change if you think about selecting four cards at random from a pack of playing cards. Each card is not returned to the pack. The chance of selecting 4 aces would be 4/52 x 4/51 x 4/50 x 4/49.

Answer 4

Assuming that you toss the coin exactly the same way each time, its a 50 - 50 chance of the next throw producing heads or tails. Each throw is an independent event, there is no connection between one throw and the next.

Answer 5

the odds of the coin falling 6 times on its head and 5 times on its head on one on tails are exactly the same 50-50.....because the coin does not have a memory.

Answer 6

With probability there are 2 types. Dependant, and independent.

Dependant is where the probability is effected by the previous outcome ie;

If i have 10 balls in a bag, 3 red, 3 yellow and 4 blue, what is the probability of me picking a red one? 3/10.

If i do not replace that ball, what is the possibility of me picking out another red one? 2/9

If I don't replace that ball what is the possibility of picking out a blue one? 4/8... 2/4... 1/2!

A coin toss is independent, because each time you toss it, it neither takes or adds anything to the possibility!

I hope this helps.

Answer 7

If a coin lands on heads FIFTY times in a row, it will land on tails the next time, and then flip up on its edge and start spinning out of control, eventually gaining enough centrifical momentum that it vanishes into thin air. Works every time... try it.

Answer 8

the next toss is still 50 50 chance ...... coins do not have memory

however 5 times are you shore the coin is not doctored .... or is it a double haded coin

Answer 9

Still 50-50

Answer 10

There's a 50% chance.