LinkedIn · Probability & Brainteasers
Derive expectation for two consecutive heads
TrueInterview
October 7, 2026 · 1 min read
Let denote the number of flips of a fair coin needed until the pattern HH (two consecutive heads) occurs for the first time. (a) Compute using a state-based recursion or a Markov-chain argument, and give the exact numerical value. (b) Generalize to the case of a biased coin with , where . (c) For the fair coin, derive . Show all steps and justify the recurrence setup.
Overview: This question assesses command of probability theory and stochastic processes, in particular expectation and variance calculations, Markov-chain or recurrence reasoning, and pattern waiting times in Bernoulli trials, as relevant for a Data Scientist role.
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