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)
1/3
(c)
2/5
(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} $