Activity Overview
In this activity, students perform a simulation to guess answers on a test and determine the experimental probability of passing the test. They then compare it with the theoretical probability.
Before the Activity
Set up the calculator as explained in the attached PDF file
See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
Print pages 111 - 128 from the attached PDF file for your class
During the Activity
Distribute the pages to the class.
Follow the Activity procedures:
Part 1:
List the correct answer for each multiple choice question
Generate a list of random numbers between 1 and 4
Compare the two lists
Find the number of correct answers in the simulation
Use this data to plot a histogram, and find the mean, mode, and median for the number of correct answers
Compare the experimental and theoretical probabilities for the data
Part 2:
Run a simulation to check to see if the calculator produces an answer distribution similar to that on the actual test:
Generate a list of random numbers between 1 and 4 to represent the answers to 20 questions on the test
Sort the list and count the frequency of each option
Repeat the steps for two more trials
Determine the number of times an answer-option occurs in each trial
Plot a pie chart for each of the trial-tests
Create a pictograph using the data from the three trials
Construct bar graphs and observe that this graph shows the results of all three tests
After the Activity
Students will complete the Data Collection and Analysis page and answer questions.
Review student results:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary