Re: Clint & Robert on "Faith in Science"

From: Clint O'Dell (clintodell@hotmail.com)
Date: Mon Oct 25 1999 - 11:44:51 MDT


Robert Owen wrote:
>So, Clint, why do you think that at some number
>of tosses the result OUGHT TO BE exactly 50% tails, 50% heads?
>Answer: because your BELIEVE in the "Laws of Probability". Can you
>prove this belief rationally justified even though one cannot >possibly
>design an experiment to test these laws (hypotheses) empirically?

Actualy this can be tested, and I have tested it before. And no the results
do not have to be exactly 50% tails and 50% heads. There is a distinct
difference between statistics and probability. Probability says what is
more "likely" to happen. Statistics is what happens in an a pure logic
world. Statistics is a tool in probability like a straight line is a tool
in geometry. If I flip a coin x number of times, x being equal to or less
than 10 then I won't get fifty percent of each. I may get something like
70% 30%. But If I increase x to less than or equal to 100 flips the
percentage difference decreases. I may get something like 75% 25% or 80%
20%. If I increase x to 1000 flips I get, yet a smaller difference in
percentage, something like 90% 10%. The larger x is, the smaller the
difference. The point when the number of x is important depends on how
accurate you want your information. Try It.

I know the laws of probability are real not because I BELIEVE in it but
because I CAN PROVE IT.

-Clint

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