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Three unbiased coins are tossed. What is the probability of getting at most two heads?

Question and options

Three unbiased coins are tossed. What is the probability of getting at most two heads?
  1. 34\frac{3}{4}
  2. 14\frac{1}{4}
  3. 38\frac{3}{8}
  4. 78\frac{7}{8}

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - \(\frac{7}{8}\)
With three coins there are 8 equally likely outcomes, and only one of them (all three heads) has more than two heads. So P(at most two heads)=1−18=78P(\text{at most two heads}) = 1 - \frac{1}{8} = \frac{7}{8}; 38\frac{3}{8} is the probability of exactly two heads, not at most two.

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