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Three players simultaneously toss coins. The coin tossed
Chapter 3, Problem 19STE(choose chapter or problem)
Problem 19STE
Three players simultaneously toss coins. The coin tossed by A(B)[C] turns up heads with probability P1(P2)[P3]. If one person gets an outcome different from those of the other two, then he is the odd man out. If there is no odd man out, the players flip again and continue to do so until they get an odd man out. What is the probability that A will be the odd man?
Questions & Answers
QUESTION:
Problem 19STE
Three players simultaneously toss coins. The coin tossed by A(B)[C] turns up heads with probability P1(P2)[P3]. If one person gets an outcome different from those of the other two, then he is the odd man out. If there is no odd man out, the players flip again and continue to do so until they get an odd man out. What is the probability that A will be the odd man?
ANSWER:
Step 1 of 2
Our goal is
We need to find the probability that A will be the odd man.
If he gets heads while the others get tails or he gets tails while the others get heads, on each coin toss the player.
Then a will be the odd man Each of these events happens with probability
and (1)
The game continues if all players get heads or all players get tails.
Then each of these events happen with probability
and (2)
Then the game stops with A not the odd man out with probability of 1 minus the sum of the four probabilities above.