Probability and Statistics

I took Statistics in college and really enjoyed the course.  After taking Algebra and Calculus. It was nice to take a math class that I understood and had a practical use for it. I especially enjoyed learning about mean, median and mode and standard deviations.

You are probably wondering what this has to do with walking around Stamford. The other day when I was walking, I found a wheat penny on my travels.  I usually pick up all change that I see on my walks. Mainly pennies. Sometimes dimes and quarters. So, onto the wheat penny.  I also found one the week before. So, the question is what is the probability of finding not one but two wheat pennies?

The US Mint stopped stamping wheat pennies in the 1950’s. According to my internet research there are over 200 billion pennies in circulation, and they feel one of every 350 pennies is a wheat penny.

I average picking up ten pennies a week. It is amazing where I find them.  A fair number of pennies I find around parking meters but the rest all over my walks.  I often wonder do people like to throw coins away.

One out of 350 are the odds.  I pick up ten a week. I should be finding one wheat penny every 35 weeks I have been actively picking pennies for almost two years. Finding two wheat pennies in that time fits the average.

I mention this because as I walk around Stamford and other areas I see and experience a lot of unique things. Seeing a Coyote. Bumping into Governor Lamont in Westport. If you walk enough you will probably see many unique things