Final answer:
The probability of tossing a coin twice and getting a head and a tail is 50%, as there are two favorable outcomes (HT and TH) out of four possible outcomes, and each toss is independent with a 50% chance of landing on either side.
Step-by-step explanation:
The probability of tossing a coin twice and getting one head and one tail can be calculated using basic principles of probability. Since there are two outcomes when tossing a coin (heads or tails), each with an equal chance of occurring, the probability of getting one specific outcome (like a head) is 50%, or 0.5. When tossing a coin twice, there are four possible outcomes: HH (two heads), HT (a head then a tail), TH (a tail then a head), and TT (two tails). To calculate the probability of getting one head and one tail in any order, you'll consider the two scenarios where this occurs: HT and TH.
Since each toss is independent of the other, the probability of HT is (0.5) × (0.5) = 0.25, and similarly, the probability of TH is also 0.25. To find the total probability of either HT or TH occurring, you simply add up these probabilities: 0.25 + 0.25 = 0.5. Thus, the probability of tossing a coin twice and getting one head and one tail is 50% or 0.5.