Quick, Simple Math Question : Plz Help

Blitz · Post by **Blitz** » Thu Nov 01, 2001 5:33 pm

Heres the question:

If you toss a coin 20 times how many heads and tails would you ideally expect to see? Record number and calculate the expected ratio of heads:tails (Heads to tails).

Ok, so the number should be 10 for tails, and 10 for heads.

but what is the ratio? I thought the ratio would be 10:20 for heads, and 10:20 for tails........but it wants heads to tails??! therefore, it is 10:10 for heads and 10:10 for tails......and if reduced to simplest form, then it is 1:1 for both??

Plz help, tia.

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Thu Nov 01, 2001 5:39 pm

therefore, it is 10:10 for heads and 10:10 for tails......and if reduced to simplest form, then it is 1:1 for both??

personally, i think this is your problem......i dont think you can just seperate them like this. i haven't had math in two years, but I am pretty sure that you can't.

anyone else know??

AAF Striker · Post by **AAF Striker** » Thu Nov 01, 2001 5:41 pm

If it were for each seperate it would be 1:2. But both together it is 1:1. Unless I am wrong, which is totally possible because I am not feeling so well. So, my thinking could be a little off.

ghost · Post by **ghost** » Thu Nov 01, 2001 5:45 pm

I'm not sure how to express it, but with each toss of the coin, there is a equal chance of heads or tails. So maybe 1:1?

sniperus · Post by **sniperus** » Thu Nov 01, 2001 5:45 pm

its 10:20 because the racio is 1:2 of 50%

ghost · Post by **ghost** » Thu Nov 01, 2001 5:47 pm

Originally posted by sniperus
its 10:20 because the racio is 1:2 of 50%

Read his original post again.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Thu Nov 01, 2001 5:58 pm

Record number and calculate the expected ratio of heads:tails (Heads to tails).

the ratio will be different EACH TIME of tossing a coin 20 times, but will average out to approx 50:50 after repeating the 20 times toss.

funky · Post by **funky** » Thu Nov 01, 2001 6:48 pm

If you toss the coin 10 times, it's not 5 heads and 5 tails, more likely 4 heads and 6 tails because the head side is heavier therefore has aa higher chance of ending up at the bottom.

ncswimmer · Post by **ncswimmer** » Thu Nov 01, 2001 9:31 pm

I think they're going off the assumption that the coins are fair. Most math and statistics problems do. Theoretically, out of 20 tosses, you'd get 10 of each. So heads:tails would be 10:10, or you can reduce it to 1:1. In English, that basically means for every head you get, you'd get one tail, which is what you want, since there's a 50% chance you'll get a tail, and 50% chance you'll get a head. The person who said 1:2 was thinking about and/or referring to the chance of getting heads (or tails) compared to the total number of tosses. 1:2 would mean out of every two tosses, you'd get one head.