What is the probability of landing on heads when flipping a coin?

The probability of landing on heads when flipping a fair coin is determined by the number of favorable outcomes divided by the total number of possible outcomes. In this case, there are two equally likely outcomes when flipping a coin: heads and tails.

Thus, the number of favorable outcomes for landing on heads is 1 (the heads side), and the total number of possible outcomes is 2 (heads and tails). Therefore, the probability is calculated as:

Probability of heads = Number of favorable outcomes / Total number of outcomes = 1 / 2.

Choosing the value of 1/2 accurately represents the likelihood of landing on heads in a simple coin flip scenario. This fundamental principle of probability applies to any situation with equally likely outcomes, making it essential for understanding not only coin flips but many other probabilistic events as well.