What is the probability that all four coins land on heads when Sam tosses them?

To determine the probability that all four coins land on heads when Sam tosses them, we start by considering the fundamental properties of probability and the outcomes of coin tosses. Each coin has two possible outcomes: heads or tails. Therefore, if Sam tosses four coins, the number of total possible outcomes is calculated using the formula for the total outcomes of independent events.

Since each coin has 2 outcomes, the total number of outcomes when tossing four coins is (2^4), which equals 16.

To find the specific event where all four coins land on heads, there is only one favorable outcome (i.e., heads on the first coin, heads on the second coin, heads on the third coin, and heads on the fourth coin).

The probability of this specific event occurring is therefore the number of favorable outcomes divided by the total number of outcomes, which is (1/16).

Thus, the correct answer is represented as 1/16, indicating that there is a one in sixteen chance that all the coins will show heads when tossed. This method applies to any situation involving independent events where the outcomes can be simplified into a set of probabilities based on the likelihood of those outcomes occurring.