if you toss a coin 10 times, how many times do you expect to turn up heads? Why...
2007-10-09 05:39:10 · 8 answers · asked by Darren 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
5
The number of times you get heads follows a "binomial" probability distribution with n=10 trials and p=0.5 probability of success.
The expected value of a binomial random variable is np.
np = 10(0.5) =5
2007-10-09 05:45:05 · answer #1 · answered by language is a virus 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You would "expect" it to turn up heads 5 times, or 1/2 the times you toss it. This is because there are only two possible outcomes; heads or tails. Probability predicts that if you toss the coin enough times, the result will distribute equally between heads and tails.
2007-10-09 05:43:44 · answer #2 · answered by Simonizer1218 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
5 times because there are 2 possible outcomes, head or tails. So with each toss heads has a 1/2 chance of turning up.
2007-10-09 05:47:16 · answer #3 · answered by jake p 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
since there are 2 sides on a coin and throwing it in the air would make the side random there is a 50:50 chance it will be heads or tails. or 1/2 chance, same difference.its just like putting a red and blue ball in a paper bag. its gonna be a 50% chance u get the red ball.
2007-10-09 05:52:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to state this explicitly, like what's the chances of
3 heads in 10 tosses ?
It's combinatorics math
2007-10-09 05:44:35 · answer #5 · answered by vlee1225 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i would expect around 4 to 6 since the chances are equal.
2007-10-09 08:00:00 · answer #6 · answered by quickclaw50 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
P(x heads in 10 tosses):
x ......... P
0 ......... 0.00098
1 ......... 0.00977
2 ......... 0.04395
3 ......... 0.11719
4 ......... 0.20508
5 ......... 0.24609
6 ......... 0.20508
7 ......... 0.11719
8 ......... 0.04695
9 ......... 0.00977
10 ....... 0.00098
using (10Cx)(0.5)^10
so I would expect 65% of the time to get between 4 to 6 heads.
2007-10-09 05:56:16 · answer #7 · answered by Philo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
about 1/2 the times becuase assuming this is a fair coin.
there are two sides and why should one come up more than the other?
2007-10-09 05:49:10 · answer #8 · answered by Rock 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋