Final answer:
The probability that Bruce will get heads on both the penny and the nickel is 1/4 and this is an example of compound probability because it involves the outcome of two independent events occurring together.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about the probability of getting heads on both a penny and a nickel when each coin is flipped once. The probability of getting a head on a single coin flip is 50 percent or 0.5. The question also asks whether the probability in this scenario is simple or compound. Since Bruce will be flipping two coins, and we're interested in the probability of both outcomes occurring together, we need to use compound probability. According to the product rule, the probability of two independent events both happening is the product of their individual probabilities.
Therefore, the probability that Bruce will get heads on the penny and a head on the nickel is the product of the two individual probabilities: (0.5) x (0.5) = 0.25 or 1/4. As a result, the correct answer to the problem is 1/4, compound probability.
Each coin flip is an independent event, and the outcome of one does not affect the outcome of the other. Hence, this is a classic example of compound probability where we are considering the probability of two events happening together.