Stop at the first girl

Every couple keeps having children until they get a girl, then stops (each birth is an independent 50/50). What is the expected number of boys in a single family? (as a decimal)

Show hints (2)+
  1. Boys == (total children) - (girls); each family has exactly one girl.
  2. Total children until the first girl is Geometric with mean 1/p=21/p = 2; subtract the one girl.

Answer

Reveal answer →

1

Want the full step-by-step worked solution? It's part of Premium - along with a worked solution for every question in the bank.

Asked at: Timed Mental-Math & Sequences, EV & Betting Games

Related questions