# Finding probability functions

• November 12th 2011, 10:27 PM
deezy
Finding probability functions
Four fair coins are tossed simultaneously. Find the probability of the random variable X = number of heads and compute the following probabilities:
d) not more than 3 heads.

I'm not sure how to set up these probabilities.

For example problems, the book has $f(x) = \begin{pmatrix}n\\ x \end{pmatrix}p^xq^{n-x}$ for a binomial distribution and

$f(x) = \begin{pmatrix}n\\ x\end{pmatrix}(\frac{1}{2})^n$ for a symmetric case. There are other probability functions that they list as well.

My biggest problem is finding out the proper way to write these probabilities out, or what probability function can be used (if any).

For example, in a), I can logically see that it would be (1/2)*(1/2)*(1/2)*(1/2), but how can I write this as a probability function?
• November 12th 2011, 10:48 PM
CaptainBlack
Re: Finding probability functions
Quote:

Originally Posted by deezy
Four fair coins are tossed simultaneously. Find the probability of the random variable X = number of heads and compute the following probabilities:
d) not more than 3 heads.

I'm not sure how to set up these probabilities.

For example problems, the book has $f(x) = \begin{pmatrix}n\\ x \end{pmatrix}p^xq^{n-x}$ for a binomial distribution and

$f(x) = \begin{pmatrix}n\\ x\end{pmatrix}(\frac{1}{2})^n$ for a symmetric case. There are other probability functions that they list as well.

My biggest problem is finding out the proper way to write these probabilities out, or what probability function can be used (if any).

For example, in a), I can logically see that it would be (1/2)*(1/2)*(1/2)*(1/2), but hibution B(ow can I write this as a probability function?

The number of heads has a binomial distribution $\text{B}(4,\ 0.5)$, so the probability of $r$ heads is:

$p(numb\_ heads=r)=b(n;4,\ 0.5)= \begin{pmatrix}4\\ r \end{pmatrix}(0.5)^r (0.5)^{4-r}=\frac{4!}{(4-r)! r!}(0.5)^4$

So if $r=0$ we have:

$p(numb\_ heads=0)=\frac{4!}{(4-0)! 0!}(0.5)^4=(0.5)^4$

CB
• November 13th 2011, 11:19 AM
deezy
Re: Finding probability functions
Not sure how to write c).

$1-P(\text{none}).$