If a coin is tossed three times, what is the probability of getting exactly two
Practice Questions
Q1
If a coin is tossed three times, what is the probability of getting exactly two heads?
3/8
1/2
1/4
5/8
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If a coin is tossed three times, what is the probability of getting exactly two heads?
Correct Answer: 3/8
Step 1: Understand that when a coin is tossed, it can land on either heads (H) or tails (T).
Step 2: When the coin is tossed three times, we can have different combinations of heads and tails.
Step 3: We want to find the combinations where there are exactly 2 heads.
Step 4: The combinations for getting exactly 2 heads in 3 tosses are: HHT, HTH, and THH.
Step 5: Count the number of ways to get exactly 2 heads. There are 3 ways (HHT, HTH, THH).
Step 6: Calculate the total number of possible outcomes when tossing the coin 3 times. This is 2^3 = 8.
Step 7: Now, find the probability of getting exactly 2 heads. This is the number of ways to get 2 heads divided by the total outcomes: 3/8.
Step 8: Therefore, the probability of getting exactly 2 heads when tossing a coin three times is 3/8.
Probability – Understanding the likelihood of an event occurring, specifically calculating the probability of getting a certain number of heads when tossing a coin multiple times.
Combinatorics – Applying combinations to determine the number of ways to achieve a specific outcome (in this case, exactly 2 heads in 3 tosses).
Sample Space – Recognizing the total number of possible outcomes when performing an experiment, such as tossing a coin multiple times.