Activity Detail

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	Off to the Races

Activity Overview

In this activity, students set weights for factors and observe how it affects the probability of a particular outcome. They set a weight for 3 factors for each of the six horses in a race. The three factors are weighted differently in different parts of the race. They compare the experimental and theoretical probability of a particular outcome.

Before the Activity

Install the Probability Simulation Application on the calculator using one of these two methods:

TI Connect™, a TI Connectivity Cable, and the Unit-to-Unit Link Cable

TI-Navigator™ "send to class" feature

See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity

Print pages 69 - 78 from the attached PDF file for your class

Activity Downloads:

(file types)

ExploringMath_Probability_Act6.pdf
ExploringMath_Probability_Appendix_A.pdf
ExploringMath_Probability_Appendix_B.pdf

During the Activity

Distribute the pages to your class.

Follow the Activity procedures:

Using the Earning table, determine the cumulative earnings for each horse, and what percent of the overall total for the 6 horses that amount represents

Determine the weight for each horse

Use the Jockey's Placing table to determine the weight setting for each jockey

Based on the information in the Post Position table determine the weight for each of the post positions

Start the Probability Simulator application

Start the Roll dice simulation

Randomly select a post position and jockey for each horse

Enter weights for horses, jockeys, and post positions

Identify the part of the race for which each factor is important and adjust the trial sets

Predict the outcome of the race

Run the simulation and record the outcome of the race

Examine how various factors affected the outcome

After the Activity