Activity Overview
In this activity, students explore how to write and enter a calculator program that will simulate coin tossing for a given number of times and count the number of heads and tails. They analyze the program and modify it.
Before the Activity
Set the calculator in Alpha mode
See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
Print pages 51 ? 59 from the attached PDF file for your class
During the Activity
Distribute the pages to the class.
Follow the Activity procedures:
Set up the calculator to accept a new program
Enter a name for the program
Enter the program commands; setting a prompt that allows the user to enter the number of coin tosses to be simulated and a pause that allows the user to view the result after each coin toss
Run the program on the calculator and enter the number of trials
Analyze the data generated by the program
Predict the consequences of removing the Pause command from the program code
Delete the Pause command from the program
Run the program again, and check the prediction
Edit the program to include the count of heads and tails in the coin toss simulation
Observe that the program allows one to conduct the simulation many times, quickly, and displays the results for analysis
After the Activity
Students answer the questions.
Review student results:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary