Fair coin probability of Heads. I have a fair coin which I toss many times. What is the probability that it takes 12 rolls until I get two heads in a row? I thought this was just standard geometric. But it doesn’t seem to work? Can someone please explain how to do this?

Livia Cardenas

Livia Cardenas

Answered question

2022-07-18

Fair coin probability of Heads
I have a fair coin which I toss many times. What is the probability that it takes 12 rolls until I get two heads in a row?
I thought this was just standard geometric. But it doesn’t seem to work? Can someone please explain how to do this?

Answer & Explanation

emerhelienapj

emerhelienapj

Beginner2022-07-19Added 14 answers

Step 1
So, the first ten flips have no consecutive heads, which means that we can look at the different flips sequences by filling in the 10 flips with either T or HT. It's well known that there are F 10 = 89 (F is the fibonacci sequence) ways for this to happen.
Step 2
Answer: 89 2 12
vangstosiis

vangstosiis

Beginner2022-07-20Added 3 answers

Step 1
Call a sequence admissible if it doesn't contain two consecutive heads. Then we must have an admissible sequence of length 9, followed by the sequence THH. Let a n be the number of admissible sequence of length n, t n be the number of such sequences that end in T, and let h n be the number of such sequences ending in H.
Clearly, a n = t n + h n .
Step 2
Also, h n = t n 1 , since the last H is an admissible sequence ending in H must be preceded by an admissible sequence ending in T. However, there is no such restriction on an admissible sequence ending in T, so t n = t n 1 + h n 1 = t n 1 + t n 2 ,and we see the Fibonacci numbers.
Note that a 9 = t 9 + h 9 = t 9 + t 8 = t 10 = 89.

Do you have a similar question?

Recalculate according to your conditions!

New Questions in High school geometry

Ask your question.
Get an expert answer.

Let our experts help you. Answer in as fast as 15 minutes.

Didn't find what you were looking for?