Question

If two coins are tossed together, then the chance for falling with heads up is 1/2. The chance for tails is also 1/2. Therefore, the chance that both coins will land on heads is _1/4___. The chance for the first coin to fall on tails and the second on heads is also ___1/4____. However, one head and one tail can be obtained if the first coin to fall on heads and the second on tails. There, the total probability of obtaining a head on one coin and a tail on the other is ___1/2___. The chance for both coins to land on tails is __1/4____. In summary, two coins tossed together are expected to land on heads _1/4_ of the time; one head and one tail __1/2___ of the time; two tails __1/4___ of the time. Stated as a ratio instead of fractions, the expected result is _____4:4 or just_____.

Answer 1

Stated as a ratio instead of fractions, the expected result is _____4:4 or just_____.

1

Explanation:

In this particular case, the result of the two coins tossed together landing on heads 1/4 of the time; one head and one tail 1/2 of the time; and two tails 1/4 of the time is equal to 1.

This is because 1/4 + 1/2 + 1/4 = 1. It is the sum of all probabilities in the set or distribution. This sum is always equal to 1. Therefore, the sum of a probability distribution is the collection of the probabilities that define the chance of the various outcomes of an event or experiment.