# What does it mean first 2 flips are heads

1. Oct 5, 2011

### zeion

what does it mean "first 2 flips are heads"

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

I have a problem that asks me the find the probability that the first 2 flips after tossing 6 coin is heads.

does it mean that it is the result {HHTTTT}?
or does it include results like {HHTHH}, {HHTTH}, etc?

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

2. Oct 5, 2011

### ThatPinkSock

Re: what does it mean "first 2 flips are heads"

I'm not 100% clear on what your question is. If the question is asking what are the chances that you will have two instances of heads in your first two flips out of 6 flips you simply need to do:

$\frac{1}{2}$ * $\frac{1}{2}$
(50% chance of heads for the first flip) (multiplied) (50% chance of heads for the second flip)

= $\frac{1}{4}$ = 25%

3. Oct 5, 2011

### zeion

Re: what does it mean "first 2 flips are heads"

{HHTTT} means "first 2 are heads"

then
does

{HHTHH} also mean "first 2 are heads" ?

or does it mean that the rest of the 4 flips must all be tails ?

4. Oct 5, 2011

### DaveC426913

Re: what does it mean "first 2 flips are heads"

zeion, if we are to interpret what it says from your paraphrasing - and you don't know what it means, how are we to give the correct interpretation?

Write out the question exactly.

5. Oct 5, 2011

### zeion

Re: what does it mean "first 2 flips are heads"

Suppose that we flip a coin six times and roll a 6-sided die once. Suppose also that all outcomes of this experiment (consisting of an ordered sequence of results for the flips (heads of tails) and the number showing on the die after the roll (an integer from 1 to 6)) are equally likely.

Find the following probabilities:

1) .. i am done
2) The probability that the first R flips are heads, where R is whatever number is showing on the die.
3) ..
4) ..

6. Oct 5, 2011

### DaveC426913

Re: what does it mean "first 2 flips are heads"

Ok so,
-if the die shows a 2, what is the probability that the first 2 coin flips are heads?
and
-if the die shows a 5, what is the probability that the first 5 coin flips are heads?
and
-etc.

7. Oct 5, 2011

### zeion

Re: what does it mean "first 2 flips are heads"

what does it mean first 2 coins are heads?

Is it {HHTTTT} ?

8. Oct 5, 2011

### Staff: Mentor

Re: what does it mean "first 2 flips are heads"

We don't care about the last four flips, so it would be HHXXXX, where X could be H or T.

9. Oct 5, 2011

### zeion

Re: what does it mean "first 2 flips are heads"

so probability for first 2 are heads is 2^4 / 2^6 ?

10. Oct 5, 2011

### DaveC426913

Re: what does it mean "first 2 flips are heads"

Probability that first two flips are heads is .5 x.5 = .25

11. Oct 5, 2011

### zeion

Re: what does it mean "first 2 flips are heads"

oh that is much simpler

so first 2 are heads and roll a 2 is (1/4) * (1/6) = 1/24 ?

12. Oct 5, 2011

### DaveC426913

Re: what does it mean "first 2 flips are heads"

I am having trouble parsing that sentence. Can you please be a little more verbose? Caps and punctuation are required by board rules to aid comprehension.

13. Oct 5, 2011

### zeion

Re: what does it mean "first 2 flips are heads"

Oh, that is much simpler!

Let A be the event that the dice lands on 2.
Let B be the event that the first 2 flips out of 6 are heads.
Let E be the event that the dice lands on 2 and the first 2 flips out of 6 are heads.

Then,
E = A∩B since A and B are independent.

Then,
P(E) = P(A∩B) = P(A)P(B) = (1/6)(1/4) = 1/24

Does that look right?