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Three heads up [was Re: (ot) car length poll]
Heads Up
The possible combinations for heads up are: 0
1
2
3
Why wouldn't the answer be one in 4?
In Patrick's analysis, the 50/50 applies to the probabilities of any *one*
coin being heads up. Thus, when a number of coins are flipped, the
probability that the next *one* would be Heads remains the same,
50/50. If we take that as a given, then the odds regarding three coins
all being heads should be different.
Now, just to comment on all the theories, I'll look at Jeff's
formula. First there are four possible results (see above) not
three. Also, I think his formula (I don't know if it is actually the
correct formula) applies to the number of combinations of the Heads or
Tails (that is, the ORDER or positions in which the coins appear). Think
of a slot machine with three different wheels with a T and an H on each
wheel.. The combinations:
T T T
T T H
T H T
H T T
H H H
H H T
H T H
T H H
In our example we are not concerned with the order or number of
combinations, except for H H H.
OK, Mike, we have done your homework for you. Now you can go back to class
and be the teacher's pet.
Chris
1 1 1
1 1 2
1 1 3
1 2 3
1 3 2
2 1 3
2 3 1
3 1 2
3 2 1
At 12:31 PM 10/16/2003 -0700, Mike Smith wrote:
>That's more like it.
>
>Jeff Toomasson <jtoomasson@yahoo.com> wrote:IIRC, the formula is that
>since there are two possibilities (heads, tails)
>and three equally likely possibilities for each to occur, the probable
>number of permutations is 2^3 (to the third power) or 8. Therefore, the
>probability is one in eight or 12.5% of the time.
>
>Scirocco content: I'm in a deep funk that I have yet to begin working on my
>Mk1 and it makes me worry that I'm almost as excited about that as my son
>about to be born!!! :-/ (well, not exactly... ;)
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Patrick Bureau"
>To: "Mike Smith" ; "car"
>Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2003 12:09 PM
>Subject: Re: (ot) car length poll
>
>
> > easy answer, since the odds of a coin flip are 50% heads or tails, there
>fore the possibility of 3 coins landing on either side remains 50%,
> > now the odds that all 3 coins land on one common side (heads or tails)
>beleive it or not remains 50% (quantity of coins does not change the odds)
> >
> >
> > Mike Smith wrote:
> > As someone was complaining about no homework, soo...
> >
> > If you flip a coin, it has a 1/2 probability of landing heads up. If you
>flip 3 coins, what's the probability of all 3 landing heads up? Please
>supply formula as well as answer.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > word (w?rd)
> > interj. Slang. Used to express approval or an affirmative response to
>something. Sometimes used with up. Source
> >
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>
>word (w?rd)
>interj. Slang. Used to express approval or an affirmative response to
>something. Sometimes used with up. Source
>
>---------------------------------
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>The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search
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