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Fair coins tend to land on the side they started (2023)

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392 points seanhunter | 1 comments | 19 Nov 24 09:03 UTC | HN request time: 0.234s | source
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steeeeeve ◴[19 Nov 24 16:26 UTC] No.42185226[source]▶
I learned a trick with flipping coins from a barber at my grandpas shop when I was probably 6 or 7. Since then I've always been able to flip a coin and determine what the outcome is. It's really just being consistent with the flip and the catch.
replies(1): >>42185242 #
FartyMcFarter ◴[19 Nov 24 16:28 UTC] No.42185242[source]▶
If this is done with a quick toss and the coin is flipping rapidly in the air, that's pretty impressive.
replies(3): >>42185817 #>>42188558 #>>42193598 #
1. snowwrestler ◴[19 Nov 24 21:59 UTC] No.42188558[source]▶
I knew someone else who could do this pretty reliably. He said it was a “feel the timing” thing. Best analogy he had was maybe like landing an ice skating triple jump, or a complex dive. It happens too fast to be consciously controlled. Instead the trick is to train the body to get a feel for success and then just let the body do it.