Aren’t We Due One?

Oftentimes people believe in the misconception of the “law of averages” that you are due one. After seven straight boys, parents may think they are due a girl. Unfortunately, having a child is like tossing a coin. There is 50% chance for heads and a 50% chance for tails.  This same logic applies to giving birth. Eight boys in a row is highly unlikely, but once seven boys have been born, it is not at all unlikely that the eighth child will be a boy. This story is a cute reminder that while you may want different outcomes, the laws of probability still hold. Check out the article from Scientific American Article. This family has 14 boys!