Ten coins are tossed simultaneously. We are asked in how many of the outcomes will the third coin turn up a head.
To do that we will use the Fundamental Counting Principle. Each coin other than the 3rd has two possible outcomes, head or tails. The 3rd coin is always heads in those outcomes.
Number of Possible Outcomes
1st Coin
2
2nd Coin
2
3rd Coin
1
4th Coin
2
5th Coin
2
6th Coin
2
7th Coin
2
8th Coin
2
9th Coin
2
10th Coin
2
The number of outcomes in which the 3rd coin is heads is the product of all the possible outcomes of the coins. Let's calculate it!
2*2* 1*2*2*2*2*2*2=512
We found that the 3rd coin will be heads in 512 outcomes.
