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

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==Problem==
 
==Problem==
 
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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==
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.
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Case 1: There are two heads, two tails. The number of ways to choose which two tosses are heads is <math>\binom{4}{2} = 6</math>, 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.
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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, no tails. This can only happen <math>1</math> way.

Revision as of 22:02, 11 February 2020

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

Case 1: There are two heads, two tails. The number of ways to choose which two tosses are heads is $\binom{4}{2} = 6$, 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, no tails. This can only happen $1$ way.

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

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

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