JEE MAIN - Mathematics (2020 - 7th January Morning Slot - No. 18)

An unbiased coin is tossed 5 times. Suppose that a variable X is assigned the value of k when k consecutive heads are obtained for k = 3, 4, 5, otherwise X takes the value -1. Then the expected value of X, is :
$$ - {3 \over {16}}$$
$$ - {1 \over 8}$$
$${1 \over 8}$$
$${3 \over {16}}$$

Explanation

Number of ways 3 consecutive heads can appers

(1) HHHT_

(2) _THHH

(3) THHHT

$$ \therefore $$ Probablity of getting 3 consecutive heads

= $${2 \over {32}}$$ + $${2 \over {32}}$$ + $${1 \over {32}}$$ = $${5 \over {32}}$$

Number of ways 4 consecutive heads can appers

(1) HHHHT

(2) THHHH

$$ \therefore $$ Probablity of getting 4 consecutive heads

= $${1 \over {32}}$$ + $${1 \over {32}}$$ = $${2 \over {32}}$$

Number of ways 5 consecutive heads can appers

(1) HHHHH

$$ \therefore $$ Probablity of getting 5 consecutive heads

= $${1 \over {32}}$$

Now Probablity of getting 0, 1, and 2 consecutive heads

= 1 - $$\left( {{5 \over {32}} + {2 \over {32}} + {1 \over {32}}} \right)$$ = $${{{24} \over {32}}}$$

Now, Expectation

= (-1) $$ \times $$ $${{{24} \over {32}}}$$ + 3 $$ \times $$ $${{{5} \over {32}}}$$ + 4 $$ \times $$ $${{{2} \over {32}}}$$ + 5 $$ \times $$ $${{{1} \over {32}}}$$

= $${1 \over 8}$$

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