MA375: Solution to a homework problem from this week or last week's homework
Spring 2009, Prof. Walther
6.1 #38
Coin tossed 3 times. Possible Outcomes: TTT HHH TTH HHT THT HTH THH HTT
Are the following independent? ie. p(A intersection B) = p(A)* p(B)
a. First coin tails Second coin heads First coin tails and Second coin heads
4/8 4/8 2/8
(1/2)*(1/2) = 1/4 INDEPENDENT
b. First coin tails Two, and not three heads come up in a row Intersection: First coin tails, and then the last 2 are heads
4/8 2/8 1/8
(1/2)*(1/4) = 1/8 INDEPENDENT
c. Second coin tails Two, and not three heads come up in a row
4/8 2/8
Intersection: Second coin must be tails, and then the last 2 slots must be 2 heads in a row
0
(1/2)*(1/4) = 0 False, DEPENDENT
