Easiest coin methods

[russell]

Hello; is anyone using these coin methods? Throwing one coin to determine yang or yin, then throwing 2 or 3 more to determine whether the line is moving. They seem to me to be the simplest to do and remember; no arithmetic.

Four-coin method to reproduce the yarrow stalk probabilities:

• Throw one coin to determine yang (heads) or yin (tails).
• Throw three more coins. Exactly three heads among all four coins means the line is moving.

Note that if the first coin is heads, then there is a 3/8 chance that it will be moving, and the total odds of a moving yang are thus 3/16; but if the first coin is tails, the chance of it moving is only 1/8, and the total odds of moving yin are 1/16.

Three-coin method to retain the traditional coin probabilities:

• Throw one coin to determine yang (heads) or yin (tails).
• Throw two more coins. If these two coins are both heads, the line is moving.

Each line (yang or yin) has a 1/4 chance of being a moving line, so each moving line has a 1/8 chance of being thrown.

I just posted these at
www.russellcottrell.com/VirtualYarrowStalks/coins.htm.

—Russell

 

[patro]

Hi Russel,
i think that no one here use this method... also it's a bit more complicated... you have to toss coins X 12 to get a reading. if i get you right
well no math but more concentrations is needed.

at last what is important is that the readings match your situations and outcomes.

as i know the best way is to toss coin with perfectly identical balanced coins. this will give you no probability differences between head and tail.
also for a better feeling it would be better if the coins are made from bronze or copper legue... better if coined in the same year in wich you was born

personally i never used the math system to build a line... i simply begun by drawning a line when getting 2 heads 1 tail and a broken one when i got 2 tails and a head.. etc.
now i don't need paper for this... i build the hex in my mind.

 

[russell]

It would take 6 throws if one coin were different; otherwise it would take 12.

I don’t throw coins anymore, I select them. I added a section at the bottom of the page linked to above.

—Russell