Flip a coin 5 times, how many outcomes

Step by step

The question

Question: A coin is flipped 5 times.

How many outcomes are there?

1 Count the choices

2 Multiply

Every choice goes with every other choice.

So we multiply them all: 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2.

This is the counting principle: multiply the number of choices.

Careful!

We do not add the choices.

Every flip goes with every other one, so we multiply.

2 times 2 is 4.

4 times 2 is 8.

8 times 2 is 16.

16 times 2 is 32.

So there are 32 outcomes.

3 Check

Let's check in another order.

First 2 times 2 times 2 times 2 is 16.

Then 2 times 16 is 32.

The same.

So the answer is right!

Let's look back.

First: count the choices.

Then: multiply.

Last: check.