Objectives
In addition to specific curriculum objectives, this activity also illustrates how seamingly disconnected mathematical content, probability and geometry, can be closely integrated. In this activity students generate random numbers that will either fall inside or outside a circle of radius one unit. The proportion that fall inside the circle can be used to estimate PI.
Vocabulary
- Probability
- Simulation
- Pythagoras
- Proportion
- Estimate
- PI
About the Lesson
Watch Monte-Carlo Technique Video
In this activity students generate two lists of random numbers. These random numbers are used to plot a set of points that fall either inside or outside a circle of radious one unit. The proportion of points landing inside the circle can be used to generate an estimate for PI.