Regarding the issue of probability, a lack of understanding can lead to incorrect assumptions and predictions about the occurrence of certain events. One of these incorrect assumptions is known as the Gambler´s fallacy.
In the gambler’s fallacy, an individual mistakenly believe that the occurrence of a certain random event is less likely to occur after an event or series of events. This line of thinking is incorrect because the past events do not change the likelihood of certain events occurring in the future.
For example, consider a series of 20 coin tosses in which all have landed with the head side facing up: Under the gambler’s fallacy, a person can predict that the next coin toss is more likely to fall to the tail side facing up. This line of thinking is an incorrect understanding of probability, because the possibility that a coin lands heads or tails is always 50%. Each coin toss is an independent event, which means that each and every one of the previous tosses have no effect on future releases.
