Activity Detail
If you are using a TI-73, TI-83, TI-84 or TI-89, there may be particular math or science applications you will need to download to use certain activities. If you are using TI-Nspire technology, please update your TI-Nspire handheld operating system or computer software to view the latest activities. The latest TI-Nspire operating system was released in June 2009.
Browse by Subject Submit Activity Saved Activities Advanced Search
  


add to saved activities



print this activity
 
You're Probably Right, It's Wrong
 


Activity Overview

In this activity, students perform a simulation to guess answers on a test and determine the experimental probability of passing the test. They then compare it with the theoretical probability.

Before the Activity

  • Set up the calculator as explained in the attached PDF file
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 111 - 128 from the attached PDF file for your class

    		•

    		During the Activity

    		Distribute the pages to the class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:
    Part 1:
  • List the correct answer for each multiple choice question
  • Generate a list of random numbers between 1 and 4
  • Compare the two lists
  • Find the number of correct answers in the simulation
  • Use this data to plot a histogram, and find the mean, mode, and median for the number of correct answers
  • Compare the experimental and theoretical probabilities for the data


    • Part 2:
    Run a simulation to check to see if the calculator produces an answer distribution similar to that on the actual test:
  • Generate a list of random numbers between 1 and 4 to represent the answers to 20 questions on the test
  • Sort the list and count the frequency of each option
  • Repeat the steps for two more trials
  • Determine the number of times an answer-option occurs in each trial
  • Plot a pie chart for each of the trial-tests
  • Create a pictograph using the data from the three trials
  • Construct bar graphs and observe that this graph shows the results of all three tests

    		After the Activity

    		Students will complete the Data Collection and Analysis page and answer questions.

    Review student results:
  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary

    		Other Downloads




    view standards alignment
    view textbook alignment

    Subject Area:
    Math : Statistics : Inferential Statistics
    Math : Statistics : Probability and Simulation

    Author:
    Texas Instruments

    Level:
    5-8

    Activity Time:
    60 Minutes

    Device:
    TI-73 Explorer™

    Apps:
     

    Software:
     

    Accessories:
     

    Other:
    This is Activity 9 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Activities for Algebra with the TI-73.



    Report an issue with this activity