Statistics And Probability Question 365

Question: A fair coin is tossed n times. If the probability that head occurs 6 times is equal to the probability that head occurs 8 times, then n is equal to

[Kurukshetra CEE 1998; AMU 2000]

Options:

A) 15

B) 14

C) 12

D) 7

Show Answer

Answer:

Correct Answer: B

Solution:

  •         Probability that head occurs 6 times  $ ={}^{n}C_6{{( \frac{1}{2} )}^{6}}{{( \frac{1}{2} )}^{n-6}} $  and probability that head occurs 8 times  $ ={}^{n}C_8{{( \frac{1}{2} )}^{8}}{{( \frac{1}{2} )}^{n-8}} $              
    

$ \therefore ,{}^{n}C_6{{( \frac{1}{2} )}^{6}}{{( \frac{1}{2} )}^{n-6}}={}^{n}C_8{{( \frac{1}{2} )}^{8}}{{( \frac{1}{2} )}^{n-8}} $ $ {}^{n}C_6={}^{n}C_8 $
Þ $ (n-6)(n-7)=56\Rightarrow n=14 $ .