Streaks

Randomness is clumpier than you think

An interactive lesson with 6 steps, about 5 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Random sequences contain more and longer streaks than people expect.
• The longest run in $n$ flips is typically about $\log_2 n$.
• Streaks alone are weak evidence of anything but chance.

Steps

1. Spot the fake
2. Longest run in 20 flips
3. Five in a row
4. How long a streak?
5. The hot hand
6. Counting runs