If you flip three fair coins, what is the probability that you'll get a head on the first flip, a tail on the second flip, and another head on the third flip?

Answer 1

Let us start by considering the probability of each occurrence separately (treat as independent events, since the previous outcomes do not affect later ones):

Head on the First flip: P = 1/2

Tail on the Second flip: P = 1/2

Head on the Third flip: P = 1/2

With these independent events, the probability of all events happening is simply the product: 1/2 * 1/2*1/2 = 1/8