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