Tutorial 5.

1
1. When flipping a coin, there are only two possible outcomes: a heads or a
tails. So, we say that the probability of getting a heads is one out of two,
that is . When you sit for the examination at the end of this semester, there
are also only two possible outcomes: you pass or you fail. So, is it right to
say that the probability of you passing the examination is also !f yes,
why !f no, why not
". # person in a small foreign town applies for a marriage permit at age 1$. %o
obtain the permit, the person is handed six strings, as shown in &igure 'a(.
)n one side 'top or bottom( the ends are pic*ed randomly, two at a time, and
tied, forming three separate *nots. %he same procedure is then repeated for
the other set of string ends, forming three more *nots, as in &igure 'b(. !f the
strings form one closed ring, as in &igure 'c(, the person obtains the permit.
'a( +o you thin* the probability of the person getting the marriage permit is
higher or lower that the probability of not getting the permit
'b( ,arry out an experiment to chec* your guess in 'a(.
(c) +etermine the theoretical probability that the marriage permit will be
obtained on the first try.
Source: -illstein, .., /ibes*ind, S. 0 /ott, 1. W. '1223(. A problem-solving approach to
mathematics for elementary school teachers. 4
th
ed. .edwood ,ity,
,#:-en4amin5,ummings.p. 63".