Difference between revisions of "2002 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 21"

m (Fixed a mistake)
(Solution 2)
 
(19 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
==Problem==
 
==Problem==
 
+
Harold tosses a coin four times. The probability that he gets at least as many heads as tails is
Harold tosses me four times. The probability that he gets at least as many heads as tails is
 
  
 
<math> \text{(A)}\ \frac{5}{16}\qquad\text{(B)}\ \frac{3}{8}\qquad\text{(C)}\ \frac{1}{2}\qquad\text{(D)}\ \frac{5}{8}\qquad\text{(E)}\ \frac{11}{16} </math>
 
<math> \text{(A)}\ \frac{5}{16}\qquad\text{(B)}\ \frac{3}{8}\qquad\text{(C)}\ \frac{1}{2}\qquad\text{(D)}\ \frac{5}{8}\qquad\text{(E)}\ \frac{11}{16} </math>
  
==Solution==
+
==Solution 1==
Case 1: There are two heads, two tails. The number of ways to choose which two tosses are heads is <math>_4 C _2 = 6</math>, and the other two must be tails.
+
Case 1: There are two heads and two tails. There are <math>\binom{4}{2} = 6</math> ways to choose which two tosses are heads, and the other two must be tails.
  
Case 2: There are three heads, one tail. There are <math>_4 C _1 = 4</math> ways to choose which of the four tosses is a tail.
+
Case 2: There are three heads, one tail. There are <math>\binom{4}{1} = 4</math> ways to choose which of the four tosses is a tail.
  
Case 3: There are four heads, no tails. This can only happen <math>1</math> way.
+
Case 3: There are four heads and no tails. This can only happen <math>1</math> way.
  
 
There are a total of <math>2^4=16</math> possible configurations, giving a probability of <math>\frac{6+4+1}{16} = \boxed{\text{(E)}\ \frac{11}{16}}</math>.
 
There are a total of <math>2^4=16</math> possible configurations, giving a probability of <math>\frac{6+4+1}{16} = \boxed{\text{(E)}\ \frac{11}{16}}</math>.
 +
 +
==Video Solution==
 +
 +
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vLTPszBLeg  ~David
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{AMC8 box|year=2002|num-b=20|num-a=22}}
 
{{AMC8 box|year=2002|num-b=20|num-a=22}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Latest revision as of 10:01, 14 June 2024

Problem

Harold tosses a coin four times. The probability that he gets at least as many heads as tails is

$\text{(A)}\ \frac{5}{16}\qquad\text{(B)}\ \frac{3}{8}\qquad\text{(C)}\ \frac{1}{2}\qquad\text{(D)}\ \frac{5}{8}\qquad\text{(E)}\ \frac{11}{16}$

Solution 1

Case 1: There are two heads and two tails. There are $\binom{4}{2} = 6$ ways to choose which two tosses are heads, and the other two must be tails.

Case 2: There are three heads, one tail. There are $\binom{4}{1} = 4$ ways to choose which of the four tosses is a tail.

Case 3: There are four heads and no tails. This can only happen $1$ way.

There are a total of $2^4=16$ possible configurations, giving a probability of $\frac{6+4+1}{16} = \boxed{\text{(E)}\ \frac{11}{16}}$.

Video Solution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vLTPszBLeg ~David

See Also

2002 AMC 8 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 20
Followed by
Problem 22
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png