4 ms·
When I was around 15 I tried to master the controlled coin flip, having been exposed to the idea in one of the Stainless Steel Rat books by Harry Harrison. I re
by bitcurious 4y ago
When I was around 15 I tried to master the controlled coin flip, having been exposed to the idea in one of the Stainless Steel Rat books by Harry Harrison. I reached around 80% success flipping for heads, so long as I used the catch-and-show method. It was easier with heavier and bigger coins, tougher with lighter and smaller ones. Letting the coin drop the the ground and bounce took me back to 50%.
Satisfied that it could be done, I moved on - never used the skill, except as a party trick.
- gfodor 4y agoThis is why the casino people get upset when you roll the dice at a craps table and continually avoid hitting the back wall. The rubber pyramids lining the wall are critical to ensuring they maintain their edge :)
- raegis 4y agoSame here. Long ago I tried to generate an encryption key by flipping a coin. After getting a rhythm and flipping heads 20 consecutive times I gave up.
- titzer 4y agoYou could still XOR longer runs together, reducing the bitrate but mostly eliminating the bias.
- inimino 4y agoThere is a protocol for this... you flip the coin twice. HH or TT you ignore, HT or TH you keep (and treat as H or T). This eliminates any bias towards H or T that the coin or flipping procedure may have.