A cuteish real problem

#1 01-26-2002, 11:34 AM

Suppose one starts flipping a fair coin. On average how long does it take to flip a head?

Consider this part a to a question which we will see has interesting ramafications..

Showing clever work gets extra credit(-:

#2 01-26-2002, 12:42 PM

.623 seconds.

#3 01-26-2002, 12:54 PM

How high are the flips? And are we assuming planet earth at sea level?

Okay, here's one. What is Aibohphobia the fear of?

Tommy

#4 01-26-2002, 05:16 PM

a man, a plan, a canal, Panama. Scary.

#5 01-26-2002, 05:26 PM

Fear of having to do kickboxing aerobics.

#6 01-26-2002, 05:57 PM

"What is Aibohphobia the fear of?"

the fear of questions about flipping coins?

#7 01-26-2002, 07:22 PM

my thinking is that the answer would be

the sum (1/2 + 2/4 + 3/8 + 4/16 + 5/32 + 6/64 ......)= avg number of flips to get a head

#8 01-26-2002, 07:47 PM

That's what I got too. I'm guessing that it converges on 2.

#9 01-26-2002, 10:31 PM

I'll give you a hint:

Average flips to get heads = Average flips to get tails.

#10 01-27-2002, 05:25 AM

2d