Question 1515 Marks
A bag contains $(2n + 1)$ coins. It is known that n of these coins have a head on both sides where as the rest of the coins are fair. A coin is picked up at random from the bag and is tossed. If the probability that the toss results in a head is $\frac{31}{42},$ determine the value of n.
Answer
View full question & answer→Given, n coin have head on both sides and $(n + 1)$ coins are fair coins.
Let $E_1$ = Event that an unfair coin is selected.
$E_2$ = Event that a fair coin is selected.
$E$ = Event that the toss results in a head.
$\therefore\text{P}(\text{E}_1)=\frac{\text{n}}{2\text{n}+1}$ and $\text{P}(\text{E}_2)=\frac{\text{n}-1}{2\text{n}+1}$
Also, $\text{P}\Big(\frac{\text{E}}{\text{E}_1}\Big)=1$ and $\text{P}\Big(\frac{\text{E}}{\text{E}_2}\Big)=\frac{1}{2}$
$\therefore\text{P}(\text{E})=\text{P}(\text{E}_1)\cdot\text{P}\Big(\frac{\text{E}}{\text{E}_1}\Big)+\text{P}(\text{E}_2)\cdot\text{P}\Big(\frac{\text{E}}{\text{E}_2}\Big)$
$=\frac{\text{n}}{2\text{n}+1}\cdot1+\frac{\text{n}+1}{2\text{n}+1}\cdot\frac{1}{2}$
$\Rightarrow\frac{31}{42}=\frac{2\text{n}+\text{n}+1}{2(2\text{n}+1)}$
$\Rightarrow\frac{31}{42}=\frac{3\text{n}+1}{4\text{n}+2}$
$\Rightarrow124\text{n}+62=126\text{n}+42$
$\Rightarrow2\text{n}=20\Rightarrow\text{n}=10$
Let $E_1$ = Event that an unfair coin is selected.
$E_2$ = Event that a fair coin is selected.
$E$ = Event that the toss results in a head.
$\therefore\text{P}(\text{E}_1)=\frac{\text{n}}{2\text{n}+1}$ and $\text{P}(\text{E}_2)=\frac{\text{n}-1}{2\text{n}+1}$
Also, $\text{P}\Big(\frac{\text{E}}{\text{E}_1}\Big)=1$ and $\text{P}\Big(\frac{\text{E}}{\text{E}_2}\Big)=\frac{1}{2}$
$\therefore\text{P}(\text{E})=\text{P}(\text{E}_1)\cdot\text{P}\Big(\frac{\text{E}}{\text{E}_1}\Big)+\text{P}(\text{E}_2)\cdot\text{P}\Big(\frac{\text{E}}{\text{E}_2}\Big)$
$=\frac{\text{n}}{2\text{n}+1}\cdot1+\frac{\text{n}+1}{2\text{n}+1}\cdot\frac{1}{2}$
$\Rightarrow\frac{31}{42}=\frac{2\text{n}+\text{n}+1}{2(2\text{n}+1)}$
$\Rightarrow\frac{31}{42}=\frac{3\text{n}+1}{4\text{n}+2}$
$\Rightarrow124\text{n}+62=126\text{n}+42$
$\Rightarrow2\text{n}=20\Rightarrow\text{n}=10$
