Why is tossing a coin considered to be a fair way of deciding which team should get the ball at the beginning of a football game?
Tossing a coin is considered a fair way because the coin can only land in one of two possible ways — either head up or tail up. Since the coin is symmetrical and unbiased, there is no reason for it to come down more often on one side than the other. Therefore, both outcomes (head and tail) are equally likely, with each having a probability of 1/2. This ensures that both teams have an equal chance of winning the toss.
Explanation
The textbook explains that when we speak of a coin, we assume it to be 'fair' — meaning it is symmetrical so there's no reason for it to come down more often on one side than the other. This property is called being 'unbiased'. The context also states that we can reasonably assume each outcome (head or tail) is as likely to occur as the other, making them equally likely outcomes. Since both outcomes have equal probability (1/2 each), the method is fair for both teams.