You toss a coin twice. Which calculation proves that landing on tails for the first toss and heads on the second toss are independent events?

Answer 1

Two events A and B are independent if P(A and B) = P(A)P(B)

Let A = the first toss is tails and B = the second toss is heads

P(A) = 1/2

P(B) = 1/2

P(A)P(B) = (1/2)(1/2) = 1/4

The possibilities for two coin tosses are: HH, TT, HT, TH

So, P(A and B) = 1/4

Therefore, P(A and B) = P(A)P(B). So, A and B are independent events.

Answer 2

The gravitational pull is constant (32.2ft/sec^2).

It depends on how the coin is tossed; height; speed; angle etc.

Stick with 50:50.