Such unpredictability can be useful sometimes! For example, in a cricket match, the fact that a coin is tossed to decide which team will bat first is considered to be a fair method. Can you explain why?
Tossing a coin is considered a fair method because of its unpredictability. A coin is assumed to be 'fair' and symmetrical, meaning there is no reason for it to land on one side more often than the other. This property makes the coin 'unbiased'.
In a random toss, the coin is allowed to fall freely without any bias or interference. Since the possible outcomes are known but the exact result cannot be predicted in advance, both teams have an equal chance of winning the toss.
Therefore, the probability of getting heads or tails is exactly the same (1/2). This randomness ensures that neither team has an unfair advantage, making it a perfectly fair way to decide who bats first.
Explanation
The textbook explains that a coin toss is fair because coins are symmetrical and 'unbiased', meaning they have no tendency to favor one side. A 'random toss' ensures the coin falls freely without interference. Because the outcome is unpredictable and the probability for heads or tails is equal (1/2), both teams have an equal chance, making it a fair method for decision-making.