Question

you conduct an experiment to find the probability of a flipped coin landing on heads or tails. you flip the coin 10 times, with a result of 8 heads and 2 tails. you conclude that the probability of a coin landing on heads is 80%. why did you get inaccurate results?

a. there is only one head and one tail, so the probability should be 50% each.

b. you didnt flip the coin high enough.

c. the sample size was too small.

d. the shape of the coin wasnt considered.

Explanation:

To determine why the conclusion about the coin's probability is inaccurate, we analyze each option:

• Option A: A fair coin has a theoretical probability of 50% for heads or tails, but this doesn't explain why the experimental result was inaccurate. The issue isn't about the theoretical probability but the experiment's limitations.
• Option B: Flipping height doesn't affect the probability of a fair coin landing on heads/tails in a way that explains the inaccurate result. This is not a valid factor for probability in a fair coin experiment.
• Option C: When the sample size (number of trials) is small, experimental results can deviate significantly from the theoretical probability. With only 10 flips, the result of 8 heads (80%) is likely due to the small sample size, as more trials would make the result approach the theoretical 50%.
• Option D: The size of the coin doesn't impact the probability of landing on heads or tails for a fair coin. This is an irrelevant factor.

Answer:

C. The sample size was too small.