Coin Toss Problem | AMC 10A, 2017| Problem No 18

Pre College Mathematics

AMC-10A, 2017 Problem-18

$4$

Amelia has a coin that lands heads with probability $\frac{1}{3}$, and Blaine has a coin that lands on heads with probability $\frac{2}{5}$. Amelia and Blaine alternately toss their coins until someone gets a head; the first one to get a head wins.

Now can you finish the problem?

Let $P$ be the probability Amelia wins. Note that $P=$ chance she wins on her first turn $+$ chance she gets to her second turn $\cdot \frac{1}{3}+$ chance she gets to her third turn $\cdot \frac{1}{3} \ldots$ This can be represented by an infinite geometric series,

Therefore the value of \(P\) will be $P=\frac{\frac{1}{3}}{1-\frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{3}{5}}=\frac{\frac{1}{3}}{1-\frac{2}{5}}=\frac{\frac{1}{3}}{\frac{3}{5}}=\frac{1}{3} \cdot \frac{5}{3}=\frac{5}{9}$ which is of the form \(\frac{p}{q}\)

Now Can you finish the Problem?

Therefore \(q-p=9-5=4\)

Pre College Mathematics

AMC-10A, 2017 Problem-18

$4$

Amelia has a coin that lands heads with probability $\frac{1}{3}$, and Blaine has a coin that lands on heads with probability $\frac{2}{5}$. Amelia and Blaine alternately toss their coins until someone gets a head; the first one to get a head wins.

Now can you finish the problem?

Let $P$ be the probability Amelia wins. Note that $P=$ chance she wins on her first turn $+$ chance she gets to her second turn $\cdot \frac{1}{3}+$ chance she gets to her third turn $\cdot \frac{1}{3} \ldots$ This can be represented by an infinite geometric series,

Therefore the value of \(P\) will be $P=\frac{\frac{1}{3}}{1-\frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{3}{5}}=\frac{\frac{1}{3}}{1-\frac{2}{5}}=\frac{\frac{1}{3}}{\frac{3}{5}}=\frac{1}{3} \cdot \frac{5}{3}=\frac{5}{9}$ which is of the form \(\frac{p}{q}\)

Now Can you finish the Problem?

Therefore \(q-p=9-5=4\)