Chapter 12.6, Problem 35S

To determine

To write an expression to represent the probability of tossing a coinntimes and getting n heads.

Answer to Problem 35S

The expression for probability of tossing a coin n times and gettingn heads is $\frac{1}{2^n}$

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

The expression should represent the probability of tossing a coinn times and gettingn heads as a power of 2.

Calculation:

The probability of tossing a coin and getting head $=\frac{1}{2}$

The probability of tossing a coin two times and getting two heads $=\frac{1}{2}\cdot \frac{1}{2}=\frac{1}{2^2}$

The probability of tossing a coin three times and getting three heads $\text{=}\frac{1}{2}\cdot \frac{1}{2}\cdot \frac{1}{2}=\frac{1}{2^3}$

Similarly,

The probability of tossing coin ntimes and gettingn heads is $\frac{1}{2^n}$