Education Technology

Analyzing Number Cube Sums

Subject Area
Math: Elementary Math: Probability, Statistics and Data Analysis
Level
K-5
Activity Time
60 Minutes
TI Calculator
TI-15 Explorer™/TI-10
Other Materials
    This is Activity 25 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Uncovering Math with Manipulatives, the TI-10, and the TI-15 Explorer

    The following materials are required for this activity:
  • Number cubes
  • Pencils
Resource Types
Lessons

Analyzing Number Cube Sums

Activity Overview

Students extend their understanding of theoretical probability and patterns. They use number cubes, to build awareness that a fraction and its decimal and percent representation on the calculator are "close," but not necessarily equal.

Before the Activity

  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print student activity sheet page 121 from the attached PDF for your class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the page to the class.

    Follow the activity procedures:

  • Roll two number cubes and represent the results as fractions, decimals, and percents
  • Examine the experimental probabilities
  • Record all the ways of rolling two number cubes to get each possible sum of 2 through 12
  • Record the theoretical probability of each sum in fraction, decimal, and percent
  • Understand what the numerator and denominator used in the calculation represent
  • Investigate the sum of all the fractional probabilities, the sum of all the decimal representations, and the sum of all the percents
  • Analyze the results
  • After the Activity

  • Review student results
  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary
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    Download Files
    Subject Area
    Math: Elementary Math: Probability, Statistics and Data Analysis
    Level
    K-5
    Activity Time
    60 Minutes
    TI Calculator
    TI-15 Explorer™/TI-10
    Other Materials
      This is Activity 25 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
      Uncovering Math with Manipulatives, the TI-10, and the TI-15 Explorer

      The following materials are required for this activity:
    • Number cubes
    • Pencils
    Resource Types
    Lessons
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