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Solution: 2017 Winter Final - 13

Author: Michiel Smid

Question

We flip a fair coin, independently, five times. Define the events
  • A = "the coin comes up heads exactly four times",
  • B = "the fifth coin flip results in heads".
What is $\Pr(A|B)$?
(a)
2/3
(b)
2/5
(c)
1/3
(d)
1/4

Solution

  • Let S be all possible outcomes of the coin flips: $ |S| = 2^5 = 32 $
  • Let's determine B
    There is a fifth coin flip is heads: 1
    The other 4 coin flips can be any combination of heads and tails: $ 2^4 = 16 $
    $ |B| = 16 $
    $ Pr(B) = \frac{16}{32} = \frac{1}{2} $
  • Let's determine $ A \cap B $
    Since the fifth coin flip results in heads, we choose 1 tails for one of the first 4 coin flips: 4
    $ | B \cap A | = 4 $
    $ Pr(A \cap B) = \frac{4}{32} = \frac{1}{8} $

$ Pr(A|B) = \frac{ Pr(A \cap B) }{ Pr(B) } $

$ Pr(A|B) = \frac{ \frac{1}{8} }{ \frac{1}{2} } $

$ Pr(A|B) = \frac{1}{8} \cdot \frac{2}{1} $

$ Pr(A|B) = \frac{1}{4} $