Law of Large Numbers: A Weighty Decision

Author

Texas Instruments

Alignment

Standards Alignment

Textbook Alignment

Subject Area

Math: Statistics: Probability and Random Variables

Level

9-12

Activity Time

90 Minutes

Software

TI Connect™

TI Calculator

TI-84 series

Applications

Probability Simulation for TI-83 Plus and TI-84 Plus

Other Materials

ViewScreen Panel™ or TI-Presenter™ video adapter

Resource Types

Lessons

Report an Issue

Law of Large Numbers: A Weighty Decision

Activity Overview

In this activity, students will explore the Law of Large Numbers. By examining unfair models, they will expand their understanding of probability. They predict the weighting of an unfair model by analyzing experimental data and distributions. They will also formulate and test a hypothesis on the fairness of models.

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 17 - 28 from the attached PDF file for your class

During the Activity

Distribute the pages to your class.

Follow the Activity procedures:

Start the Probability Simulation application

Weight one section of a spinner more than others in the Spin Spinner Simulation

Observe the changed probabilities for each section

Change the weight of other sections and observe the change in the probabilities

Look for patterns and predict the probability of a change in weight

Calculate the theoretical probability for a biased model

Change the weights for each side of a die in the Roll Dice simulator

Graph the results of 60 trials for a weighted die and discern the difference between normal experimental variance and results of a biased experiment

At the end of 240 trials, observe that the results more consistently resemble the shape of the theoretical distribution

Examine data and determine if a die is weighted and determine the weights assigned to each side

After the Activity

Students will complete the Student Worksheet and answer questions.

Review student results:

As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging

Re-teach concepts as necessary

Download Files

Download All Files (ZIP)

Before the Activity Files

Teacher Notes Appendix A PDF Teacher Notes Appendix B PDF Teacher Notes PDF

Author

Texas Instruments

Alignment

Standards Alignment

Textbook Alignment

Subject Area

Math: Statistics: Probability and Random Variables

Level

9-12

Activity Time

90 Minutes

Software

TI Connect™

TI Calculator

TI-84 series

Applications

Probability Simulation for TI-83 Plus and TI-84 Plus

Other Materials

ViewScreen Panel™ or TI-Presenter™ video adapter

Resource Types

Lessons

Report an Issue

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Law of Large Numbers: A Weighty Decision

Probability Simulation for TI-83 Plus and TI-84 Plus

Law of Large Numbers: A Weighty Decision

Before the Activity Files

Probability Simulation for TI-83 Plus and TI-84 Plus

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