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If the probability that an unfair coin displays heads after it’s flipp

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Joined: 02 Sep 2009
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If the probability that an unfair coin displays heads after it’s flipp  [#permalink]

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16 Jun 2018, 00:17
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Difficulty:

45% (medium)

Question Stats:

56% (01:50) correct 44% (01:43) wrong based on 48 sessions

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If the probability that an unfair coin displays heads after it’s flipped is three times the probability that it will display tails, what is the probability that, after 5 coin flips, the coin will have displayed heads exactly 3 times?

A. 27/1024
B. 135/512
C. 9/64
D. 5/32
E. 11/32

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Re: If the probability that an unfair coin displays heads after it’s flipp  [#permalink]

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16 Jun 2018, 01:47
1
Probability of getting a head is 3 times the probability of getting a tail.

If probability of Head is X then Tails is (1-X)

x = 3(1-x) -> 3/4 = 3(1/4)

probability of tail = 1/4

We are tossing 5 times for 3 heads:

5!/(3!*2!) * (1/4)^2 * (3/4)^3

= 10* (27/4^5) = (27*5)/4^4*2 = 135/512

OA-B.
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GRE 1: Q160 V150
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Re: If the probability that an unfair coin displays heads after it’s flipp  [#permalink]

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07 Jul 2018, 02:02
I still don't understand this question. Can someone help?
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 47923
Re: If the probability that an unfair coin displays heads after it’s flipp  [#permalink]

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07 Jul 2018, 02:21
prags1989 wrote:
I still don't understand this question. Can someone help?

If the probability that an unfair coin displays heads after it’s flipped is three times the probability that it will display tails, what is the probability that, after 5 coin flips, the coin will have displayed heads exactly 3 times?

A. 27/1024
B. 135/512
C. 9/64
D. 5/32
E. 11/32

A fair coin has the probability of heads equal to the probability of tails, so P(tail) = P(head) = 1/2. We are told that the coins is unfair so P(tail) ≠ P(head).

The probability that the coin displays heads after it’s flipped is three times the probability that it will display tails: P(h) = 3*P(t). Sin, the sum of these probabilities must be 1, then P(h) + P(t) = 1:

3*P(t) + P(t) = 1;

P(t) = 1/4 and P(h) = 3/4.

The question ask to find the probability that, after 5 coin flips, the coin will have displayed heads exactly 3 times. Exactly 3 heads can occur in several different ways:
HHHTT
HHTHT
HTHHT
THHHT
THHTH
THTHH
TTHHH
HHTTH
HTTHH
HTHTH
Basically, this is permutations of 5 letters HHHTT, out of which 3 H's and 2 T's are identical: 5!/(3!2!) = 10.

Now, each of the above 10 cases have the probability of (3/4)^3*(1/4)^2. Thus, the overall probability of P(HHHTT) is $$10*(\frac{3}{4})^3*(\frac{1}{4})^2 =\frac{135}{512}$$.

Hope it's clear.
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Posts: 47923
Re: If the probability that an unfair coin displays heads after it’s flipp  [#permalink]

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07 Jul 2018, 02:23
Bunuel wrote:
prags1989 wrote:
I still don't understand this question. Can someone help?

If the probability that an unfair coin displays heads after it’s flipped is three times the probability that it will display tails, what is the probability that, after 5 coin flips, the coin will have displayed heads exactly 3 times?

A. 27/1024
B. 135/512
C. 9/64
D. 5/32
E. 11/32

A fair coin has the probability of heads equal to the probability of tails, so P(tail) = P(head) = 1/2. We are told that the coins is unfair so P(tail) ≠ P(head).

The probability that the coin displays heads after it’s flipped is three times the probability that it will display tails: P(h) = 3*P(t). Sin, the sum of these probabilities must be 1, then P(h) + P(t) = 1:

3*P(t) + P(t) = 1;

P(t) = 1/4 and P(h) = 3/4.

The question ask to find the probability that, after 5 coin flips, the coin will have displayed heads exactly 3 times. Exactly 3 heads can occur in several different ways:
HHHTT
HHTHT
HTHHT
THHHT
THHTH
THTHH
TTHHH
HHTTH
HTTHH
HTHTH
Basically, this is permutations of 5 letters HHHTT, out of which 3 H's and 2 T's are identical: 5!/(3!2!) = 10.

Now, each of the above 10 cases have the probability of (3/4)^3*(1/4)^2. Thus, the overall probability of P(HHHTT) is $$10*(\frac{3}{4})^3*(\frac{1}{4})^2 =\frac{135}{512}$$.

Hope it's clear.

22. Probability

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Re: If the probability that an unfair coin displays heads after it’s flipp  [#permalink]

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07 Jul 2018, 08:44
prags1989 wrote:
I still don't understand this question. Can someone help?

Basically this coins does not have equal chance of getting Head and Tails. Chance of getting Head is three times than getting Tail.
You have to consider different chances of getting Head and Tail.
Re: If the probability that an unfair coin displays heads after it’s flipp &nbs [#permalink] 07 Jul 2018, 08:44
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