You toss a coin and randomly select a number from 0 to 9. What is the probability of getting tails and selecting a 1?

1 Answer
Nov 6, 2016

The probability of landing on tails and selecting the #1# is #1/20# when expressed in fraction form. As a decimal, it is #0.05#, and as a percent it is #5%#.

Explanation:

In this compound probability situation, you find the probability of the two independent events and multiply them.

A coin has two possible outcomes: heads or tails. Therefore the probability of landing on tails is #1/2#.

Considering the numbers from #0# to #9#, inclusive, there are a total of #10# possible outcomes. Therefore the probability of selecting the number #1# is #1/10#.

So the probability of the two events happening together is:

#1/2(1/10)= 1/20 = 0.05 = 5%#

As a fraction, the probability is #1/20#. As a decimal, the probability is #0.05#. As a percent, the probability is #5%#.

If the answer form is not specified in the directions, it is customary to give the probability in fraction form.