Rafael is asked to invent a random-looking sequence of \(24\) coin tosses without actually tossing a coin. Rafael writes:
\(H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T,H,T\)
1. Find the relative frequencies of heads and tails in the sequence.
2. Find the counts of the overlapping adjacent pairs \(HH\), \(HT\), \(TH\), and \(TT\).
3. Evaluate how plausible this sequence is as the result of \(24\) tosses of a fair coin. Use the expected counts of \(HH\) and \(TT\) in your explanation.
Hints
- Count adjacent pairs by moving one position at a time through the sequence.
- For independent fair tosses, determine the probability of each two-toss pair.
- Compare expected pair counts with the observed pattern, not just the overall heads-and-tails balance.
Solution
1. The sequence contains \(12\) heads and \(12\) tails, so the relative frequency of each outcome is \(\frac{12}{24}=0.5\).
2. There are \(23\) overlapping adjacent pairs. The counts are \(0\) for \(HH\), \(12\) for \(HT\), \(11\) for \(TH\), and \(0\) for \(TT\).
3. For a fair coin, each ordered pair has probability \(0.25\), so the expected count of \(HH\) is \(23\cdot0.25=5.75\), and the expected count of \(TT\) is also \(5.75\). The sequence contains neither pair and alternates perfectly throughout. Although its single-outcome frequencies are balanced, its pair pattern is extremely atypical of independent fair-coin tosses and suggests deliberate alternation rather than random generation.
Answer
1. The relative frequencies of heads and tails are both \(0.5\).
2. The counts are \(0\) for \(HH\), \(12\) for \(HT\), \(11\) for \(TH\), and \(0\) for \(TT\).
3. The sequence is extremely atypical of fair, independent coin tosses. The expected counts of \(HH\) and \(TT\) are each \(5.75\), but both observed counts are \(0\).