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3C2×(1/2)²×1/2=3/8=0.375
Option C

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If a coin has an equal probability of landing heads up or tails up each time it is flipped, what is the probability that the coin will land heads up exactly twice in 3 consecutive flips?

(A) 0.125
(B) 0.25
(C) 0.375
(D) 0.50
(E) 0.666

total fair chances ; 1/2*1/2*1/2 = 1/8 ; .125
and getting heads twice in 3 flips we have
HHT; HTH; THH ; 3 ways so .125*3 ; .375
IMO C

Hello, thanks for the solution.

Kindly explain why we have to consider 3 different scenarios for the flips.

I assumed that one flip is when we get either a head or a tail and that we have adequately covered the 3 consecutive flips by 1/2*1/2*1/2 = 1/8

Why then are we considering 3 different flips when the question hasn't explicitly told us that 3 different events took place?

Thanks
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Bunuel
If a coin has an equal probability of landing heads up or tails up each time it is flipped, what is the probability that the coin will land heads up exactly twice in 3 consecutive flips?

(A) 0.125
(B) 0.25
(C) 0.375
(D) 0.50
(E) 0.666

total fair chances ; 1/2*1/2*1/2 = 1/8 ; .125
and getting heads twice in 3 flips we have
HHT; HTH; THH ; 3 ways so .125*3 ; .375
IMO C

Hello, thanks for the solution.

Kindly explain why we have to consider 3 different scenarios for the flips.

I assumed that one flip is when we get either a head or a tail and that we have adequately covered the 3 consecutive flips by 1/2*1/2*1/2 = 1/8

Why then are we considering 3 different flips when the question hasn't explicitly told us that 3 different events took place?

Thanks

Hi

first, we calculate the probability of getting 3 heads = (1/2)^2 = 1/8 then we account for the order of heads in each toss HHT = 3!/2! = 3 therefore 1/8*3=3/8=0.375
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If a coin has an equal probability of landing heads up or tails up each time it is flipped, what is the probability that the coin will land heads up exactly twice in 3 consecutive flips?

(A) 0.125
(B) 0.25
(C) 0.375
(D) 0.50
(E) 0.666

Possibilities:

HHT
THH
HTH

Each possibility has a 1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2 = 1/8 chance of happening

1/8 + 1/8 + 1/8 = 3/8 = 0.375

C
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Given that A fair coin is tossed three times, and we need to find what is the probability that the coin will land heads up exactly twice

Coin is tossed 3 times => Total number of cases = \(2^3\) = 8

Out of these 8 cases following are the cases in we will get exactly two heads
THH, HTH, HHT
=> 3 cases

=> Probability that the coin will land heads up exactly twice = \(\frac{3}{8}\) = 0.375

So, Answer will be C
Hope it helps!

Playlist on Solved Problems on Probability here

Watch the following video to MASTER Probability with Coin Toss Problems

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