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Bunuel
Ten coins are tossed simultaneously. In how many of the outcomes will the third coin turn up a head?

A. 2^9
B. 2^10
C. 3 * 2^8
D. 3 * 2^9
E. 3 * 2^10


Hi...
FIRST point :- If there are no restrictions, outcomes =2*2*2...10times=2^10
each coin can have two outcomes : head or tail, so 2*2*2...
SECOND point :- the restrictions, third to be HEAD only...
Since third coin has 2 outcomes, half of total will have head and half tail..
So outcomes = \(\frac{2^{10}}{2}=2^9\)

A
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law of large numbers:) or symmetry in case of permutations
50% of total outcomes - 2^10/2 = 2^9
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Bunuel
Ten coins are tossed simultaneously. In how many of the outcomes will the third coin turn up a head?

A. 2^9
B. 2^10
C. 3 * 2^8
D. 3 * 2^9
E. 3 * 2^10

Since the total number of outcomes of the 10 coins is 2^10, and half of these outcomes will have the third coin turning up as a head (the other half will have the third coin as a tail), we see that the number of outcomes with the third coin turning up as a head is ½ x 2^10 = 2^9.

Answer: A
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Half the total number of outcomes will be heads, and the other as tails. Hence just divide by 2.

total outcomes = 2^10

Outcomes with last toss as a tail -> 1/2 * 2^10 = 2^9
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The third coin turns upside. what other possibilities are there for other 9 coins. it is 2^9.
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mialanknox
Ten coins are tossed simultaneously. In how many of the outcomes will the third coin turn up a head?

A. \(2^{10}\)
B. \(2^9\)
C. 3 × 2\(^8\)
D. 3 × \(2^9\)
E. None of these


Fixing the third coin as Head _ _ H _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Remaining 9 places can be filled in 2^9 ways as each place can be filled in two ways (either head or tail)

hence, desired outcomes = \(2^9\)

Answer; Option A
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