Activity Detail
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Activity Overview

In this activity, students study some important concepts of probability. They use coin tossing experiments to determine the probability of a tossed coin coming up heads. They examine both short and long term experimental probabilities and their relationship to the theoretical probability.

Before the Activity

  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 41 - 49 from the attached PDF file for your class

    		•

    		During the Activity

    		Distribute the pages to the class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:
  • Use the calculator to simulate tossing of a coin
  • Note that each of the numbers generated is either 1 or 0
  • Predict the result of a coin toss
  • Simulate tossing a coin ten times
  • Record the results and compare with the prediction
  • Enter the data as a list
  • Compute the ratio of the number of heads to the total number of tosses, and save the fraction (representing the experimental probability) in a list
  • Set up a line plot and graph the results
  • Add a horizontal line that represents the decimal fraction 0.5 (theoretical probability)
  • Examine the data around this line and determine how close the fractions are to 1/2
  • Understand that it is possible that the final fraction is not 0.5
  • Repeat the simulation for more sets of ten coin tosses
  • Realize that as larger number of trials are conducted, the experimental probability comes closer to the theoretical probability

    		After the Activity

    		Students complete data sheet and answer questions.

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

    		Other Downloads




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    Subject Area:
    Math : Statistics : Probability and Simulation

    Author:
    Texas Instruments

    Level:
    5-8

    Activity Time:
    50 Minutes

    Device:
    TI-83, TI-83 Plus Family, TI-84 Plus Family

    Apps:
     

    Software:
     

    Accessories:
     

    Other:
    This is Activity 5 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Graphing Calculator Activities for Enriching Middle School Mathematics



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