Simple coins (Posted on 2002-04-09)

	Submitted by art
Rating: 3.8750 (16 votes)
Solution:	(Hide)
The probability is 1/3. While it may seem like it should be 1/2, this is not so. This problem can be restated as follows: "When two coins are tossed, what is the probability that they both show tails, given that at least one is showing tails?" When two coins are thrown, there can be four possible equally likely outcomes: T-T T-H H-T and H-H. Now the H-H possibility is discarded, since at least one of the coins is showing tails. Of the other three, only one outcome yields the desired result, and since they are all equally likely, the probability of getting that outcome is 1/3.

	Subject	Author	Date
	re: Answer	Charlie	2014-07-06 10:46:13
	Answer	Math Man	2013-01-05 13:54:19
	re(5): Question On The Solution	Matt	2007-10-25 05:43:18
	re(4): Question On The Solution	Dej Mar	2007-10-25 00:58:34
	re(3): Question On The Solution	Matt	2007-10-24 12:41:58
	re(2): Question On The Solution	Charlie	2007-10-24 10:38:57
	re: Question On The Solution	Charlie	2007-10-24 10:11:44
	Question On The Solution	Matt	2007-10-23 13:45:31
	re: Heh	jduval	2007-06-13 20:32:53
	It COMPLETELY depends	Derek Hyatt	2007-03-20 10:33:55
	answer	K Sengupta	2007-03-08 12:42:08
	Solution	owl	2005-08-17 14:54:42
	Ambigious	Ken Haley	2004-11-05 01:02:36
	my answer	omar	2004-02-21 15:33:52
	re(5): Solution Using Real Prob/Stats	SilverKnight	2003-12-04 07:23:49
	re: devil's advocate	SilverKnight	2003-12-04 07:18:32
	devil's advocate	Lee	2003-12-03 23:50:28
	re(4): Solution Using Real Prob/Stats	Charlie	2003-12-03 22:00:28
	re(4): Solution Using Real Prob/Stats	SilverKnight	2003-12-03 16:10:30
	re(3): Solution Using Real Prob/Stats	SilverKnight	2003-12-03 15:43:16
	re(2): Solution Using Real Prob/Stats	Eberhard	2003-12-03 14:20:58
	re: Solution Using Real Prob/Stats	SilverKnight	2003-11-26 12:57:24
	Solution Using Real Prob/Stats	Eberhard	2003-11-26 12:50:30
	re: Actual Soluion	RoyCook	2003-10-09 16:07:00
	Actual Soluion	Drew	2003-10-09 00:14:58
	weak	Nathan	2003-09-05 17:47:18
	re: People! Get a clue!	Charlie	2003-08-03 07:10:11
	People! Get a clue!	nikki	2003-06-25 12:18:47
	re(3): I think the solution is WRONG	Charlie	2003-05-31 08:50:14
	re(2): I think the solution is WRONG	Cory Taylor	2003-05-30 09:53:19
	re: I think the solution is WRONG	Lewis	2003-05-30 06:54:40
	I think the solution is WRONG	Lewis	2003-05-30 06:50:41
	My first answer	mark hartman	2003-05-08 19:27:02
	I think that...	Lewis	2003-05-04 06:47:22
	re(3): It's not 1/3 the way the problem was posed.	Charlie	2003-04-11 08:57:28
	re(2): It's not 1/3 the way the problem was posed.	Charlie	2003-04-11 08:54:30
	re(2): It's not 1/3 the way the problem was posed.	Jon	2003-04-11 08:19:44
	re: It's not 1/3 the way the problem was posed.	Bryan	2003-03-26 12:02:29
	i totally agree with charlie	johnson	2003-03-14 19:33:56
	It's not 1/3 the way the problem was posed.	Charlie	2003-02-21 08:40:30
	Mike	TomM	2002-05-10 23:11:08
	Dummies all around	Mike	2002-05-10 16:03:04
	Heh	levik	2002-04-25 02:47:25
	Oh really	D Willson	2002-04-23 22:17:06
	Isn't it...	levik	2002-04-09 10:41:02