Question

Christopher flips a penny 5 times and it lands heads up all 5 times. On his 6th flip, what is the probability that the penny will land tails up?

Answer 1

Christopher flips a penny 5 times and it lands heads up all 5 times.

On his 6th flip, the probability that the penny will land tails up =1/2

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Each is flip is independent; i.e outcome of a given flip does not depend on the outcome of the previous flip or flips;

(flip of coin has two outcomes : head , tail: Number of outcomes =2

For a given flip, probability that penny will land tails up = number of outcomes that favor a tail / total number of out comes = 1/2

Therefore,

On the six flip, the outcome does not depend on the outcomes of the previous flips i.e whether it lands head up all 5 times, or lands tail up all 5 times or any other (3 heads, two tails etc etc. ); Therefore,

On his 6th flip, the probability that the penny will land tails up =1/2