Head for the first time

A fair coin is thrown repeatedly. What is the probability that a head appears for the first time on the n th n^\text{th} throw?


Marvin's Math Quiz 1 .

n 2 n^{-2} n 2 n^2 2 n 2^{-n} 2 n 2^{n}

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2 solutions

Freddie Hand
Jan 8, 2017

One way of solving this (impossible without multiple choice) is to substitute in n = 1 n=1 . Then the probability is obviously 1 2 \frac{1}{2} and the only expression which is equal to this is 2 n 2^{-n} = 2 1 2^{-1} = 1 2 \frac{1}{2}

Md Zuhair
Jan 8, 2017

The die is repeatedly thrown until head occurs.

Given by question that head occurs at nth turn

Hence Till and before only tail occurs.

Now it is tried till nth term

P(Tail)= 1 2 \dfrac{1}{2} = P(Head)

Now 1st chance that head will not occur = 0.5

2nd time it will not occur = 0.5 *0.5

Like this before nth row head will not occur = ( 0.5 ) n 1 (0.5)^{n-1}

Hence At last when head occurs, P(which is needed to find) = 0.5 x ( 0.5 ) n 1 (0.5)^{n-1} = 2 n 2^{-n}

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