Activity Overview
Students simulate a contest that requires obtaining 10 tokens found in the bottom of specially marked cereal boxes. They determine the average number of boxes to be bought in order to collect all ten tokens.
Before the Activity
Seed the calculator before generating random numbers
See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
Print pages 49 - 52 from the attached PDF file for your class
During the Activity
Distribute the pages to the class.
Follow the Activity procedures:
Predict the number of boxes to be bought to collect all 10 pieces
Use the random integer generator to select numbers between 1 and 10 that represent the game pieces in boxes of cereals
Record the random number generated in each trial (One trial represents buying a box of cereal)
Repeat the process of generating random numbers until each number (1 through 10) has appeared at least once
Determine the average number of boxes that need to be bought to collect all 10 pieces
After the Activity
Students complete the Student Activity sheet.
Review student results:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary