What is the Probability of Getting Three Heads in 30 Coin Tosses?

  • Context: MHB 
  • Thread starter Thread starter ThunderWolf2016
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Experiment Probability
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the probability of obtaining three heads in a series of 30 coin tosses. Participants explore both empirical and theoretical approaches to understanding this probability, including the use of counting principles and basic probability concepts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests conducting 30 trials to empirically calculate the probability of outcomes, expressing a need for a flowchart to visualize possible outcomes.
  • Another participant questions how many outcomes will result in all heads when tossing a coin $n$ times and discusses the fundamental counting principle.
  • A follow-up post provides a detailed explanation of the probability of getting heads in a single toss and extends this to multiple tosses, concluding that the probability of getting $n$ heads in $n$ tosses is $P(\text{n heads})=\frac{1}{2^n}$.
  • The same participant calculates the specific probability for three heads, stating that $P(\text{3 heads})=\frac{1}{8}$.
  • A later reply expresses gratitude for the assistance received in the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present various viewpoints and calculations regarding the probability of heads in coin tosses, but there is no explicit consensus on the empirical versus theoretical approaches or the necessity of additional visual aids.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions regarding the fairness of the coin and the independence of tosses are implied but not explicitly stated. The discussion does not resolve the need for empirical data versus theoretical calculations.

ThunderWolf2016
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Conduct 30 trials and calculate emperical probability of the outcomes. What is the probability of tossing 1 coin three times and getting three heads? Need a flowchart of some sort to show all possible outcomes. This math is new to me and has little understanding of this math lol so any help aanyone can give me will be really appreciative.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Out of all the possible outcomes from tossing a coin $n$ times, how many of those will be $n$ heads?

For each individual coin toss, how many outcomes are possible? How many of those are heads? Using the fundamental counting principle, how many outcomes will there be for $n$ coin tosses?
 
As a follow-up, I will answer my own questions...

MarkFL said:
Out of all the possible outcomes from tossing a coin $n$ times, how many of those will be $n$ heads?

There is only one outcome in which all tosses will be heads, since there is only 1 way to choose $n$ from $n$:

$${n \choose n}=\frac{n!}{n!((n-n)!}=1$$

MarkFL said:
For each individual coin toss, how many outcomes are possible?

There are two possible outcomes, either heads or tails, and for a fair coin, both are equally likely.

MarkFL said:
How many of those are heads?

Only 1 outcome is heads, therefore we can compute the probability of getting heads on one toss as follows:

We are certain that we will either get heads (H) or tails (T):

$$P(\text{H})+P(\text{T})=1$$

Since we assume the coin is fair, we know:

$$P(\text{H})=P(\text{T})$$

And so we have:

$$P(\text{H})+P(\text{H})=1$$

$$2P(\text{H})=1$$

$$P(\text{H})=\frac{1}{2}$$

This corresponds with the fact that out of the two possible outcome, only one is favorable:

$$P(\text{H})=\frac{\text{number of ways to get heads}}{\text{total number of outcomes}}=\frac{1}{2}$$

MarkFL said:
Using the fundamental counting principle, how many outcomes will there be for $n$ coin tosses?

Since for each toss, there are two outcomes, the total number $N$ of outcomes for $n$ tosses is:

$$N=\prod_{k=1}^{n}(2)=2^n$$

And so we may conclude that the probability of getting $n$ heads for $n$ tosses is:

$$P(\text{n heads})=\frac{1}{2^n}$$

So, if $n=3$, the probability of getting all 3 heads is:

$$P(\text{3 heads})=\frac{1}{2^3}=\frac{1}{8}$$
 
thank you all for help is well appreiciated :D
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
6K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 45 ·
2
Replies
45
Views
6K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K