# To find out the probability distribution of" something like geometric random variables"

#### bincybn

##### Member
Dear friends,

I have divided the time into slots of fixed size. And i toss a coin of probability of heads 1/2 in the first slot. In the next slot, i toss a coin of probability of head 1/4, and in the i^th slot i toss a coin of prob of head 1/2^i. I do this until i get a head. What is the probability distribution of the no. of slots until a success?

If it was fixed Prob of heads in each slot, the prob was as easy as a pie. (Geometric)

Initially i thought that, the distribution is
for i>=2, and for i=1, prob(i=1)=1/2

But this prob distribution do not sum up to one( Mathematica says that it is approximately 0.72). Can any one explain me why it is not true? What is the real ans?I am perplexed. Thanks in advance.

#### bincybn

##### Member
Re: To find out the probability distribution of" something like geometric random variables"

Hai,

But i don't think that your ans is correct.

I considered that, in the previous n-1 slots, none are heads, but in your case it is none are 'all heads' in the previous n-1 slots.

#### chisigma

##### Well-known member
Re: To find out the probability distribution of" something like geometric random variables"

Hai,

But i don't think that your ans is correct.

I considered that, in the previous n-1 slots, none are heads, but in your case it is none are 'all heads' in the previous n-1 slots.
Of course You are right and I deleted my post... very sorry!...

The probability to have a head in the n-th slot and 'all tails' in the previously n-1 slots is, as You wrote,...

$\displaystyle P_{n}=2^{-n}\ \prod_{k=1}^{n} (1-2^{-k})$ (1)

The fact that $\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} P_{n}<1$ is not surprising because the event 'an head sooner or later' is not 'sure' ,i.e. it has not probability 1...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$

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#### CaptainBlack

##### Well-known member
Re: To find out the probability distribution of" something like geometric random variables"

Dear friends,

I have divided the time into slots of fixed size. And i toss a coin of probability of heads 1/2 in the first slot. In the next slot, i toss a coin of probability of head 1/4, and in the i^th slot i toss a coin of prob of head 1/2^i. I do this until i get a head. What is the probability distribution of the no. of slots until a success?

If it was fixed Prob of heads in each slot, the prob was as easy as a pie. (Geometric)

Initially i thought that, the distribution is
View attachment 141for i>=2, and for i=1, prob(i=1)=1/2

But this prob distribution do not sum up to one( Mathematica says that it is approximately 0.72). Can any one explain me why it is not true? What is the real ans?I am perplexed. Thanks in advance.

That the probabilities do not sum to one is not necessarily a deficiency in this case. It is possible with these decreasing probabilities of success that the probability of never getting a head is non-zero.

I think what you have is correct, you just have to add the extra case that the probability of never getting a head is 1 minus the sum of the probabilities that you have.

By the way the formula works for i=1 as well, since the empty product is 1.

CB

#### bincybn

##### Member
Re: To find out the probability distribution of" something like geometric random variables"