1. **State the problem:** We toss 2 fair coins and want to find the expected number of heads. 2. **Define the random variable:** Let $X$ be the number of heads obtained in the toss of 2 coins. 3. **Possible values of $X$:** Since each coin can be head (H) or tail (T), the possible values of $X$ are 0, 1, or 2. 4. **Calculate probabilities:** - $P(X=0)$ means no heads: both tails, probability $\frac{1}{4}$. - $P(X=1)$ means exactly one head: HT or TH, probability $\frac{2}{4} = \frac{1}{2}$. - $P(X=2)$ means two heads: HH, probability $\frac{1}{4}$. 5. **Formula for expected value:** $$E(X) = \sum x_i P(X=x_i)$$ 6. **Calculate expected value:** $$E(X) = 0 \times \frac{1}{4} + 1 \times \frac{1}{2} + 2 \times \frac{1}{4}$$ $$= 0 + \frac{1}{2} + \frac{2}{4}$$ $$= \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{2}$$ $$= 1$$ 7. **Interpretation:** On average, when tossing 2 fair coins, we expect 1 head. **Final answer:** $$\boxed{1}$$