Münzwurf

Münzwurf, meaning "coin toss" in German, is a common method used to make a decision between two equally likely outcomes. It involves flipping a coin and observing which side lands face up. Typically, one side is designated as "heads" (Kopf) and the other as "tails" (Zahl). The randomness of the coin flip ensures that each outcome has a 50% probability of occurring, making it a fair way to resolve a choice.

In many contexts, a Münzwurf serves as a simple and impartial way to decide who goes first in a game, which team gets to choose their side of a field, or to settle disputes where no other objective criterion is available. The process is straightforward: two parties agree on what each side of the coin represents, the coin is flipped, and the result determines the outcome.

The mathematical principle behind a Münzwurf is probability. Assuming a fair coin that is not biased towards one side, the probability of landing on heads is 1/2, and the probability of landing on tails is also 1/2. This predictability of probability, yet unpredictability of the actual outcome, is what makes the coin toss a reliable tool for random selection. The term "Münzwurf" is widely understood in German-speaking countries to refer to this specific act of coin flipping for decision-making.