Activity Overview
In "Longshot", a man is murdered after the horse he bet on won a race. A notebook filled with horse racing data and equations is found on the victim. Charlie finds that the equations were designed to pick the second place finisher. He explains that the racetrack uses a pari-mutuel betting system, in which the odds vary depending on the amounts wagered. In this activity, students will study the concept of pari-mutuel betting and expected value in the context of land claims.
Before the Activity
Download the attached PDF and look over the Teacher Page. Download the attached TI-Navigator files for use during the lesson.
During the Activity
Discuss the materials from the Student Page with your class.
After the Activity
Encourage students to explore Web sites and questions from the Extensions Page.