Ivy C.

asked • 11/27/14

You are playing a game with a friend in which you toss a fair coin.

Your friend pays you a nickel if it's heads, and you pay your friend a nickel if it's tails. You win 10 times in a row and want to stop, but your friend says, "Let's play one more time, double or nothing. I'm due to win." What's the expected value of this game?
$

What is your response to your friend?

1 Expert Answer

By:

Mark M. answered • 11/27/14

Tutor
5.0 (278)

Mathematics Teacher - NCLB Highly Qualified

Ivy C.

So my answer of .50 was wrong. I'm confused. Thanks so much. 
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11/27/14

Mark M.

The probability of each individual flip is 0.50, in that you are correct. That gets multiplied by the 0.50 for the next flip, and so on, and so on, and so on.
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11/27/14

Ivy C.

So it says that $5.00 is wrong. I even tried $10.00. Thinking it doubles. Thank you.
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11/27/14

Mark M.

Expected value is the sum of the individual expected values:
 
0.05(1/2) + 0.05(1/2) + .... + for all ten flips. Factoring
 
1/2( 10 · 0.05 )
1/2 · 5
2.50
 
Your expected value is $2.50.
 
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11/27/14

Ivy C.

It said that's wrong. Thank you a bunch, though.
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11/27/14

Mark M.

My arithmetic was off! What about $0.25?
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11/27/14

Ivy C.

Oh yes. Thank you!! Thank you so much!!
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11/27/14

Mark M.

Your are welcome! Thank you for your patience.
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11/27/14

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