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Some thoughts on a coin-tossing problem

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 September 2016

B. D. Bunday*
Affiliation:
School of Studies in Mathematics, University of Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP

Extract

“A fair coin is tossed successively until either two heads occur in a row or three tails occur in a row. What is the probability that the sequence ends with two heads?”

Thus the problem was stated on the Cambridge Scholarship paper. My problem on being asked for help was to produce a solution using only sixth form methods, and hopefully a solution which would prove interesting and instructive. Certainly the problem had captured the imagination of my questioners, although the method for its solution was proving to be elusive.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Mathematical Association 1976

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