- #1
bmb2009
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Homework Statement
Suppose you flip 1000 coins, what is the probability of flipping exactly 500 heads and 500 tails. (Hint: First write down the formula for the total number of possible outcomes. Then, to determine the "multiplicity" of the 500-500 macro state, use stirlings approximation.
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
I have done a couple of these problems (successfully) with the binomial distribution method so am I wrong in stating the following equality? Or is this correct and I should just use the stirlings method to make N!~ NlnN - N at large N and then use this to simplify the probability I wrote? Thanks!
probability = (1000 choose 500)((.5)^500)*((.5)^500)