If you flip a coin 9 times and get 9 heads the probability of getting a head on the next toss would be 1/2. Explain how it is 1/2.

Each flip is independent of other flips. Therefore each time you toss the coin, you have the same odds of getting heads >> 1/2

To understand why the probability of getting a head on the next coin toss is 1/2, you need to remember that the outcome of a coin toss is independent of previous tosses. In other words, each coin toss is completely unrelated to the ones that came before it.

When you flip a fair coin, there are two possible outcomes: heads or tails. Since the coin is fair, each outcome has an equal chance of occurring, and we can represent this as a probability of 1/2.

Now, let's consider the scenario you mentioned: flipping a coin 9 times and getting 9 heads in a row. The probability of this specific event happening is very low. In fact, it is (1/2)^9, which is approximately 0.00195 or 0.195%.

However, the previous 9 heads do not affect the outcome of the next toss. The probability of getting a head on the next toss remains the same: 1/2. This is because the coin does not have a memory of previous results, and each toss is an independent event.

In summary, even though the sequence of 9 consecutive heads might make it seem as if tails is "due" to occur, the probability of getting a head on the next toss remains unchanged at 1/2.