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一枚公平硬币 + 其余偏硬币:正面数为偶数的概率

Modified Even Coins

专题
Probability / 概率
难度
L2

题目详情

nn 枚硬币,其中 1 枚是公平硬币;其余 n1n-1 枚为偏硬币,正面概率为 0<λ<10<\lambda<1

同时抛掷这 nn 枚硬币,求“正面总数为偶数”的概率。

nn coins are laid out in front of you. One of the coins is fair, while the other n1n-1 have probability 0<λ<10 < \lambda < 1 of showing heads. If all nn coins are flipped, find the probability of an even amount of heads.

解析

设偏硬币(n1n-1 枚)出现偶数个正面的概率为 pp,则出现奇数个正面的概率为 1p1-p

若公平硬币为 H(概率 1/21/2),要总数为偶数则偏硬币需为奇数;若公平硬币为 T(概率 1/21/2),偏硬币需为偶数。

因此

P(偶数)=12(1p)+12p=12.P(\text{偶数})=\frac12(1-p)+\frac12 p=\frac12.

Original Explanation

To obtain an even amount of heads, we have two options. If the fair coin shows HH, then we must show an odd amount of heads on the other n1n-1 coins to obtain an even total. Alternatively, if the fair coin shows TT, then we must show an even amount of heads on the other n1n-1 coins to obtain. If pp is the probability of an even amount of heads on the other n1n-1 non-fair coins, then by Law of Total Probability, our probability of interest is 12p+12(1p)=12\frac{1}{2} \cdot p + \frac{1}{2} \cdot (1-p) = \frac{1}{2}. This is because the complement of an even amount of heads is an odd amount, and these probabilities are weighted equally in the computation, so they cancel out.