Question 1082101:  A coin is biased such that the head is twice as likely to occur as tail. If this coin is tossed 4 times, find 
i- the sample space 
ii- the probability of having at least 2 heads 
iii- the probability of having exactly 3 heads 
iv- the probability of having at most 4 heads. 
 Found 2 solutions by  Boreal, rothauserc: Answer by Boreal(15235)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! HHHH 
HHHT 
HHTH 
HTHH 
THHH 
HHTT 
HTHT 
HTTH 
THHT 
THTH 
TTHH 
TTTH 
TTHT 
THTT 
HTTT 
TTTT 
Exactly two heads in 4 tosses: 6 ways of having them 4C2 
The denominator of the product of the probabilities is always 81.  The numerator numbers change in order but not in product, and they are 2*2*1*1=4.  Multiply by 6 and get 24/81=8/27 
exactly 3 heads is 4 * 2*2*2*1/87=32/81 
exactly 4 heads is 2*2*2*2/81=16/81 
(and 1 head and 0 heads for completeness: 
1:2*4/81=8/81 
0:1/81 
Sum is 81/81 
 Answer by rothauserc(4718)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! Let Probability(P) of getting a tail on a toss = x 
: 
Let P of getting a head on a toss = 2x 
: 
we know the sum of the probabilities = 1 
: 
x + 2x = 1 
: 
x = 1/3 
: 
P of getting a tail on a toss = 1/3 
P of getting a head on a toss = 2/3 
: 
i)  there are 2^4 possible combinations 
HHHH, HHHT, HHTH, HHTT, HTHH, HTHT, HTTH, HTTT, 
THHH, THHT, THTH, THTT, TTHH, TTHT, TTTH, TTTT  
: 
Note that there is no difference between tossing 1 coin 4 times and tossing 
4 coins once 
: 
We use the binomial probability for ii and iv 
: 
ii) P(at least 2 heads) = 1 - P(0 heads) - P(1 head) 
Note P(k successes in n trials) = nCk * p^k * (1-p)^n-k, where p = 2/3, n = 4, 
4Ck = 4! / (k! * (n-k)! 
P(at least 2 heads) = 1 - 0.01 - 0.10 = 0.89 
: 
iii) P(of 3 heads) = 0.40 
: 
iv)  P(at most 4 heads) = 1 - P(0 heads) 
P(at most 4 heads) = 1 - 0.01 = 0.99 
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